SunBender

The SunBender project was born from the natural evolution of a collaboration spanning more than a decade between Solbian and SunPower, an iconic name in the photovoltaic industry. Founded in 1985, SunPower is renowned for producing the world’s highest-performance solar cells: the Maxeon cells.

With the ambition of extending its technology into solar installations for mobility and leisure, SunPower selected Solbian as its privileged partner. As part of this partnership, SunPower provides its first-rate Maxeon cells under dedicated commercial conditions, specifically for integration into a Solbian panel designed for the end user.

The two companies jointly identified a range of photovoltaic modules tailored for this market. These modules retain many of the characteristics of Solbian’s standard production but are optimised for large-scale manufacturing, enabling a more competitive price point. In return, SunPower has granted exclusive use of the Maxeon brand within the product itself.

SunBender brings together the undisputed quality of Solbian and SunPower in a prêt-à-porter solution: a fixed-specification product with no customisation options, offered at a lower price than Solbian’s standard range. That standard range, by contrast, continues to provide complete freedom of custom design.

Absolutely. If you prefer to customize your setup or already own a controller, SunBender panels are available for individual purchase in all three sizes (S, M, and L) to fit your specific DIY solar project

Solbian was among the world’s first manufacturers of semiflexible photovoltaic modules using crystalline silicon solar cells, and the first to obtain certifications for this type of module. Solbian began producing panels with SunPower Maxeon cells in 2011, working directly with the cell manufacturer.

After a short time, competitors entered the market, and their number has continued to grow over the years. Many of these manufacturers claim to use Maxeon cells but offer no guarantee of quality, often using second-grade or even rejected cells. Others do use first-grade Maxeon cells; however, only Solbian is authorised to use the Maxeon brand under a formal agreement with SunPower. This represents a clear and verifiable guarantee of quality.

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Small details make a big difference.

Maxeon Solar Technologies cells are a better choice than many other solar cells because they offer higher efficiency, greater durability, and a lower temperature coefficient. This means:

Efficiency

With a maximum efficiency of 25.9%, Maxeon cells deliver more power per square metre.

Durability

Maxeon cells are built on a solid copper foundation, which makes them more resistant to cracking and corrosion over time.

Temperature coefficient

Maxeon cells have a temperature coefficient of -0.27%/°C, which is lower than that of most conventional silicon solar cells. This means less power loss at high temperatures and better performance on hot days. In practical terms, more energy is produced and stored in the battery.

No. SunBender is not designed to be walkable. It is not intended for integration into rigid structures such as boat decks and should not be walked on.

This characteristic is not required for many solar installations and does not affect the panel’s quality or weather resistance. Durability and reliability are determined by the manufacturing technology used, not by whether a panel is walkable.

For applications that require walkable solar panels, we recommend choosing other products from Solbian’s range.

Certainly! We can help you find the nearest distributor to you. 

Contact us and one of our experts will contact you as soon as possible.

Yes. 

The installation process is straightforward. Inside the DIY solar panel kit, you will find a comprehensive installation manual and all the components needed to complete the installation on your own. Only a few basic tools are required.

The panels are supplied with metal installation eyelets, allowing them to be easily fixed to rigid supports using ropes or cable ties (not included). This ensures stability and resistance to weather conditions.

The panels can also be secured using screws and washers. When doing so, it is important to maintain a minimum distance of 5 mm between the washer and the cells.

For more detailed instructions, please refer to the installation manual.

SunBender is covered by a 5-year warranty.

Please refer to the Warranty Conditions for more details.