Arizona solar installations have lagged behind many other areas of the United States, particularly given the huge potential in the state. However, PV Magazine reports that a new project could help spur investment in the crucial sector.
Arizona Western College announced that it will begin construction of its new solar power system this Tuesday, May 24. The new installation will span the campus at five different locations, each expected to produce 1 megawatt of power.
While 5 megawatts of power generation would make this one of the largest Arizona solar installations, the most unique aspect of the project is the diversity of technologies being applied. A variety of manufacturers will supply thin-film, monocrystalline, polycrystalline and concentrated photovoltaic systems, as well as single-axis and dual-axis tracking systems, as a means of show-casing the different approaches to solar power.
"We know of no other solar project where all five technologies are showcased at utility scale, installed, by the same group, at the same time," Bruce Mercy, PPA Partners chief executive officer, told the magazine. "The data generated by the project should be very interesting."
The project is expected to produce nearly all of the energy used at the university during the day and should save the school more than $40 million on utility bills over the next 30 years.
According to a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association, Arizona produced around 55.5 megawatts of solar energy in 2010, behind only California, New Jersey and Nevada. Greater investment in the industry could help introduce more financing options for solar panels, which proves particularly important given residential units comprise more than half of all Arizona solar installations.
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Arizona solar installations have lagged behind many other areas of the United States, particularly given the huge potential in the state. However, 
