Arizona State University (ASU) and SunPower Corp have announced plans to install a one-megawatt solar electricity generation system at ASU’s Polytechnic campus in Mesa, Arizona.
In a commercial first, SunPower will deploy its C7 Tracker; a tracking system that concentrates the sun’s power seven times.
Designed to achieve the lowest levelised cost of electricity for solar farms, the C7 Tracker combines single-axis tracking technology with rows of parabolic mirrors, reflecting light onto 22.8 percent efficient SunPower Maxeon solar cells, the world’s most efficient large-area solar cells.
According to SunPower, the C7 system is 20 percent more efficient than existing solar technologies.
Under a power purchase agreement, local utility Salt River Project (SRP) will buy all the energy generated by the plant from SunPower, after which ASU will purchase power attributable to the plant for use at its Polytechnic campus.
The ASU campus is located in the "Valley of The Sun," and with over 300 days of full sun exposure each year, SRP chief executive John Sullivan says that solar power installations like the ASU plant are one of the most efficient ways to keep prices low for customers. The company has a goal to meet 20 percent of SRP’s retail electricity requirements through renewable sources by 2020.
ASU already tops the ranks as America’s leading institute of solar-powered higher learning, exceeding 10MW of solar capacity – over 40,000 solar panels – installed on buildings, car parks and rooftops at the University’s Tempe and West campuses.
The ASU plant is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power 225 homes and make a vital contribution to ASU’s 2014, 20MW solar energy-generating goal, which represents about 40 percent of the University’s peak electricity load. By mid-March this year, ASU plans to have all four of its campuses producing 16MW of solar power.
"This dynamic project with SunPower enables us to embrace innovative technologies and also facilitate possible education opportunities for our students," says David Brixen, ASU’s associate vice president of Facilities Development and Management.
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