Tucson-based SOLON Corporation, a subsidiary of SOLON SE and one of the largest crystalline silicon solar module manufacturers and provider of turnkey solar power plants in the U.S., announced a contract with Arizona Public Service (APS) to develop, design and construct an 18-megawatt (MW) solar power plant featuring SOLON’s turnkey system design, high-efficiency modules and single-axis trackers. APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electric utility, serves more than 1.1 million customers in the state.
Once installed this system will be one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) systems in the country, creating more than 550 local jobs during construction, and ultimately capable of generating enough solar energy to power more than 4,500 homes. Located on 145 acres
of land, the system is scheduled to start construction in the first quarter of 2011 and be completed in 2011. APS will own and operate the solar production facility.
As a complete PV system provider, SOLON is handling the Gila Bend, Arizona-based project for APS every step of the way-from site development and system design, to engineering, procurement and construction. The project features SOLON’s Velocity MW Solar System, which will provide 18 preconfigured, one-megawatt modular solar fields specifically designed to help utilities quickly scale to capacity. In total, SOLON will provide the APS system 108 robust SOLON-engineered Single Axis trackers, utilizing over 75,000 high-efficiency, industrial solar modules.
“We are pleased to be teaming with SOLON to bring our customers more solar power. This new solar plant is part of APS’ company-wide mission of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona,” said Brad Albert, General Manager Resources Acquisition and Renewable Energy for APS.
The SOLON Velocity MW Solar System consists of standardized clusters, which reduces the number of components with a proportional reduction in field installation labor. The preconfigured design also accelerates plant permitting and site development. When operated in conjunction with SOLON SCADA, a web-based system for remotely monitoring, controlling and reporting on a plant’s performance, Velocity MW offers the most compre-hensive solution for achieving efficient solar plant development and ongoing management.
“Through our Velocity MW system, SOLON is delivering a breakthrough design for fast, reliable solar energy that will allow us to quickly scale the APS project to capacity,” said Dan Alcombright, Regional Vice President and General Manager of North America for SOLON.
“We are proud to collaborate with APS on this milestone project – an effort that is reflective of SOLON’s dedication to producing the technology, superior solar solutions and jobs that advance the local Ariz. economy and the U.S. utility-scale solar energy market.
About SOLON SE:
SOLON SE is one of the largest manufacturers of solar modules in Europe as well as a supplier of solar system technology for large-scale rooftop and greenfield installations. The SOLON Group has subsidiaries in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S. and employs some 900 people worldwide. SOLON’s core business is producing solar modules and photovoltaic systems along with planning and constructing large rooftop installations and turnkey solar power plants all over the world.
