Last updated: March 2026
BP Solar was once one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers — a subsidiary of BP plc (British Petroleum) that represented one of the most significant investments by a major oil company in renewable energy. BP Solar produced millions of solar panels installed in residential, commercial, and off-grid applications worldwide. This guide covers the full BP Solar history, panel specifications, and what happened to the company.
BP Solar History: From 1973 to Dissolution
BP’s involvement in solar energy has a longer history than most people realize — it predates the modern solar industry boom by decades:
- 1973 — BP begins producing solar panels — one of the earliest commercial solar manufacturers in the world, starting during the OPEC oil crisis
- 1980s–1990s — BP Solar gradually expands through organic growth and acquisitions, building manufacturing in Australia, Spain, India, and the US
- 1999 — BP acquires Solarex (a major US solar manufacturer) from Amoco for approximately $45 million, merging it with its existing solar operations
- 2000 — BP Solar becomes one of the world’s largest solar manufacturers by production volume; BP rebrands to emphasize “Beyond Petroleum” — solar is central to this messaging
- 2002–2011 — BP Solar operates manufacturing facilities in the US (Frederick, MD), India (Bangalore), Spain (Madrid area), and Australia (Sydney)
- 2011 — BP announces closure of its Frederick, Maryland manufacturing facility, eliminating 320 jobs, citing inability to compete with Chinese solar panel prices
- 2011 — BP Solar officially ceases operations and winds down the solar business entirely. The “Beyond Petroleum” rebranding era ends; BP refocuses on core oil and gas
What Happened to BP Solar?
BP Solar was shut down in 2011 as part of BP’s broader post-Deepwater Horizon strategy to cut costs and refocus on core oil and gas operations. The Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010 cost BP approximately $65 billion in cleanup costs, legal settlements, and lost market value. Renewable energy investments, including BP Solar, were among the casualties of this cost-cutting.
The closure was also economically motivated: Chinese solar manufacturers had driven panel prices from $3–4/watt in 2008 to below $1/watt by 2012, making Western manufacturing operations financially unviable without massive capital investment in new automated production lines.
What this means for BP Solar panel owners: BP Solar no longer exists as a company. All warranty claims against BP Solar are not actionable — the entity no longer operates. However, BP plc (the parent company) still exists. Some homeowners have attempted warranty claims against BP plc, with limited success. The more practical approach for warranty issues is to work through your original installer if they provided a separate workmanship warranty.
BP Solar Panel Model Specifications
BP Solar produced panels under several product families. The most widely installed models in North America:
BP Solar Saturn Series (Monocrystalline)
| Model | Watts | Voc | Vmp | Isc | Imp | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BP3160 | 160W | 44.2V | 35.1V | 4.8A | 4.55A | 12.8% |
| BP3220N | 220W | 32.9V | 26.3V | 8.95A | 8.37A | 13.5% |
| BP380J | 80W | 22.1V | 17.6V | 4.8A | 4.55A | 11.9% |
BP Solar Polycrystalline Series
| Model | Watts | Voc | Vmp | Isc | Imp | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BP3230T | 230W | 36.7V | 29.6V | 8.50A | 7.77A | 14.1% |
| BP3235T | 235W | 37.0V | 29.8V | 8.60A | 7.88A | 14.4% |
| BP4150 | 150W | 43.4V | 34.5V | 4.75A | 4.35A | 11.6% |
| BP4175B | 175W | 44.2V | 35.4V | 5.30A | 4.95A | 13.6% |
All specifications at STC: 1000 W/m², 25°C cell temperature, AM1.5 spectrum.
Historical BP Solar Prices
Historical price data below is preserved for reference purposes. These prices reflect BP Solar panels sold through US distributors in the 2008–2011 period.
| Solar Panel Manufacturer | Model # | Panel Type | Watts | Peak Volts | Min Buy Qty | $ Per Panel | $ Per Watt | Solar Panel Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BP Solar | SX6165N | Polycrystalline Si | 175 | 43.6 | 2 | 361.35 | 2.06 | Sun Electronics |
| BP Solar | SX3190 | Polycrystalline Si | 190 | 30.7 | 20 | 465.97 | 2.45 | The Solar Biz |
| BP Solar | SX3190B | Polycrystalline Si | 190 | 30.6 | 20 | 495.00 | 2.61 | Mr Solar |
| BP Solar | SX170 | Polycrystalline Si | 170 | 44.2 | 20 | 445.97 | 2.62 | The Solar Biz |
| BP Solar | BP175B | Polycrystalline Si | 175 | 44.2 | 1 | 461.00 | 2.63 | Beyond Oil Solar |
| BP Solar | SX3175N | Polycrystalline Si | 175 | 43.6 | 1 | 474.00 | 2.71 | Mr Solar |
| BP Solar | BP175B | Polycrystalline Si | 175 | 44.2 | 1 | 487.00 | 2.78 | Mr Solar |
| BP Solar | BP3230N | Polycrystalline Si | 230 | 36.2 | 1 | 654.95 | 2.85 | Eco Direct |
| BP Solar | 3225T | Polycrystalline Si | 225 | 36.6 | 1 | 677.00 | 3.01 | Affordable Solar |
| BP Solar | BP175B | Polycrystalline Si | 175 | 44.2 | 20 | 574.75 | 3.28 | Eco Direct |
| BP Solar | SX3175N | Polycrystalline Si | 175 | 43.6 | 20 | 648.00 | 3.70 | Affordable Solar |
| BP Solar | SX3115J | Polycrystalline Si | 115 | 21.8 | 1 | 489.95 | 4.26 | Eco Direct |
| BP Solar | BP125J | Polycrystalline Si | 125 | 22.0 | 1 | 566.19 | 4.53 | AltE Store |
| BP Solar | BP380J | Polycrystalline Si | 80 | 22.1 | 1 | 375.00 | 4.69 | Mr Solar |
| BP Solar | SX3125J | Polycrystalline Si | 125 | 22.0 | 1 | 620.00 | 4.96 | Affordable Solar |
| BP Solar | 375J | Polycrystalline Si | 75 | 21.8 | 1 | 404.00 | 5.39 | Affordable Solar |
| BP Solar | BP375J | Polycrystalline Si | 75 | 21.8 | 1 | 423.75 | 5.65 | AltE Store |
BP Solar Manufacturing: Where Were the Panels Made?
Unlike Chinese competitors who consolidated manufacturing in low-cost facilities, BP Solar maintained multiple manufacturing sites across different countries:
- Frederick, Maryland, USA — Largest US operation; closed 2011. Produced polycrystalline panels using proprietary “Saturn” cell technology (a laser-grooved buried contact process).
- Bangalore, India — Manufacturing for Asian markets.
- Tres Cantos, Spain — Production for European markets.
- Sydney, Australia — Manufacturing for Australian and Pacific markets.
BP Solar’s US panels (Frederick, MD) typically have “Made in USA” markings — useful for identifying origin when dealing with insurance claims or system documentation.
How BP Solar Panels Perform Today
BP Solar panels from the 2000–2011 era are now 15–26 years old. Performance expectations:
- Degradation: BP Solar warranted 80% of rated power at 25 years. Field data for comparable-era polycrystalline panels suggests actual degradation of ~0.5% per year. A 230W panel from 2008 should be producing approximately 195–205W today.
- Known issues: Some BP Solar panels from the 2004–2008 period had above-average rates of EVA browning (yellowing of the encapsulant) in high-UV environments. This is cosmetic but can reduce output somewhat.
- Junction boxes: Some early BP models used junction boxes that are now out of production — replacements require adapters. Check junction box condition annually in wet climates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to BP Solar panels?
BP Solar was shut down in 2011. BP plc (the parent company) closed all BP Solar manufacturing operations and wound down the solar business as part of post-Deepwater Horizon cost cutting and amid intense competition from Chinese solar manufacturers who had driven panel prices below the cost of Western production. The BP Solar brand, product line, and company ceased to exist. Millions of BP Solar panels remain installed and operational worldwide.
Who took over BP Solar?
No single company acquired BP Solar as a going concern. The business was wound down rather than sold. Some manufacturing assets were sold individually. There is no successor company that assumed BP Solar’s warranty obligations or continued the product line. BP plc still exists but is not responsible for BP Solar warranty claims in any practical sense.
What is the BP385J solar panel specification?
The BP385J (also referred to as BP380J in some product literature — the suffix indicates minor revisions) is a BP Solar monocrystalline panel. Nominal power: 85W (BP385J) or 80W (BP380J). Voc approximately 22V, Vmp 17–17.6V. These are small-format panels used in off-grid, marine, and rural electrification applications. They were produced at BP Solar’s US and Indian facilities and are frequently found in older off-grid systems still in operation.
Are BP Solar panels any good?
BP Solar panels were quality products for their era — the company had decades of manufacturing experience and used standard polycrystalline and monocrystalline cell technology. Panels that survived to 2026 without physical damage and are still producing close to expected output (accounting for natural degradation) should continue operating for many more years. The company’s closure was a business and competitive decision, not a product quality issue.
