FPL Group and Silicon Valley's SunPower Corporation today announced a supply agreement for SunPower's high-efficiency solar panels and its SunPower® Tracker technology beginning in 2010 through 2012. In addition, SunPower has separately committed to locating a research and development center in Florida if the state continues its robust solar program.

Under the terms of the agreement, SunPower will supply its high-efficiency solar photovoltaic panels and proprietary tracking systems to FPL Group subsidiaries Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and NextEra Energy Resources.

"Our agreement with SunPower for competitively priced panels and systems represents a key milestone in the execution of our solar strategy. For NextEra Energy Resources, this agreement will further advance our solar development efforts in key markets such as Colorado, California, Arizona and New Jersey. In addition, assuming continued support by Florida's legislative and regulatory leadership for the deployment of solar power in Florida, this agreement benefits the state through the creation of more clean energy jobs and will help to ensure that our utility customers in Florida will get the best pricing and technology available for solar projects. SunPower's success on the construction of the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center makes us confident in furthering this important relationship," FPL Group President and COO Jim Robo said.

SunPower will also locate a research and development center employing up to 50 employees in Florida if the state government continues to support the deployment of additional solar energy. SunPower will work with FPL and the state to identify a suitable location for such a facility. Continued strong demand in Florida also could lead to manufacturing and distribution centers for solar panels and tracking systems being located in the state as well.

"FPL Group is the leader in providing renewable energy, having invested nearly $10 billion in growing that business. It's already the world leader in deploying utility-scale solar and we believe that it will continue to be a driving force in the industry. We're delighted to expand and strengthen our already successful partnership," said SunPower CEO Thomas H. Werner.

Florida Projects

SunPower is currently working with FPL to build its DeSoto and Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Centers, which is bringing commercial-scale solar photovoltaic power to Florida for the very first time.

At 25 megawatts, the DeSoto plant, currently under construction, will be the largest photovoltaic solar facility in the nation when it is completed at the end of this year. The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center will use 90,000 photovoltaic panels on 180 acres of land and provide enough electricity to power more than 3,500 homes, which is more than 20 percent of the population in DeSoto County.

Common on rooftops, solar photovoltaic is the technology most people envision when they think of solar energy. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which can be fed onto the electrical grid without the need of a turbine generator. Technological advances are now making photovoltaic panels practical on a large scale.