SunPower sees 2008 polysilicon costs down 10 pct

LOS ANGELES, April 17 (Reuters) - SunPower Corp SPWR.O Chief Executive Tom Werner said on Thursday the solar power company expects its polysilicon costs to be down 10 percent this year.

"In 2008, we forecast SunPower polysilicon costs to decline 10 percent as a result of delivery under our new contracts," Werner said on a conference call to discuss the company's first-quarter results.

Polysilicon is the key raw material used to produce photovoltaic solar cells and panels. (Reporting by Nichola Groom; editing by John Wallace)