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SunPower Corp. a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, has announced that its industry-leading solar cells will power PlanetSolar's new solar catamaran.

The solar boat, currently under construction, is expected to be the largest of its kind and will be powered exclusively by SunPower's high-efficiency solar cells.

Designed by a team of international engineers, construction of the solar catamaran is expected to be completed in February 2010 and will be the first solar boat to embark on a round-the-world tour.

Approximately 38,000 of SunPower's next generation cells will be incorporated into the skin of the catamaran and each cell offers a minimum efficiency of approximately 22 percent. It is expected to be the fastest solar boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the first to cross both the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Stopovers include Hamburg, London and Paris in Europe, New York and San Francisco in the U.S., and Singapore and Abu Dhabi, to name a few. The solar boat will be available for public display during each of its stops, offering an educational opportunity to all visitors.

"SunPower is proud to be involved with such an ambitious project as the design, launch, and round-the-world tour of this solar catamaran," said Manuel Brachet, General Manager of SunPower's International Business Development Group.

"We have the proven technology and the experience to provide the PlanetSolar team with the highest-efficiency solar cells on the market today. Our cells offer the level of performance that will enable the solar vessel to successfully achieve its goal to circumnavigate the globe."

"We are excited to partner with SunPower, as we build the world's largest solar boat," said Raphael Domjan, CEO of PlanetSolar SA. "We chose SunPower's solar cell technology because of its high-efficiency and proven results."

According to SunPower, its high-efficiency solar cells offer up to 50 percent more power than conventional technology, and two to four times the efficiency of thin film technologies.

"The same SunPower solar cells integrated into the skin of the solar boat are the number one choice for rooftop systems on homes and light commercial installations in the U.S. With an all-black appearance, SunPower's solar cells offer an attractive, affordable way to add solar to any building while maximizing the energy generated per square foot of any roof area," the company said.