One of the many advantages of renewable energy is as the world moves further away from the use of filthy fossil fuels towards a clean energy future, it also allows an evolution in the way we utilise power sources like solar electricity.
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Solar power can be generated anywhere, a notion that has led to a deal being struck between SunPower Corp. and Arizona’s Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to supply 11 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity to 1800 Tucson homes.
Instead of building a large centralised solar farm, such as a concentrated solar power (CSP) facility, under TEP’s Bright Roofs program SunPower will supply medium scale solar energy systems to the utility company for installation on leased rooftop space atop schools and other large public buildings in the Tucson area.
The SunPower solar panel based systems will be connected directly to neighbourhood electricity grids, feeding clean energy directly to homes in the city.
TEP Chairman and CEO, Paul Bonavia, said that using empty roof space in Tucson for solar electricity generation would help the company reach its renewable energy target of three percent this year and 15 percent by 2025.
"Underutilised rooftops will be used to generate emission-free energy for our community, helping us achieve our renewable energy goals," Mr Bonavia said.
Howard Wenger, president of SunPower utilities, said the TEP deal highlighted the potential of solar energy as a game-changing source of clean power.
"The TEP Bright Roofs program capitalizes on the growing value of advanced solar technology as a cost-effective energy resource that can be installed quickly anywhere and at any scale."
