Solar Arizona

Solar Arizona:A solar energy tour of Arizona

The vision of a solar Arizona – a place where significant

amounts of clean energy are generated from the power of the sun – may be closer than

you think. In this CD, compiled by the Arizona

Department of Commerce Energy Office, you’ll learn of ongoing efforts to maximize the utilization of renewable

energy across the state.

Solar Arizona:October is Solar and Renewable Energy

MonthGovernor Jane D. Hull has declared October 2002 as

Solar and Renewable Energy Month. The Arizona

Department of Commerce Energy Office is working

with the solar community to stage events throughout the

state.

Solar Arizona:Oct 4-6 Green Building Expo – Phoenix

Oct 5 STAR Center Tour – Tempe Oct 5 Flagstaff Solar TourOct 5 Prescott Solar Tour

Oct 5 Women for Sustainable Technologies Conference. -- Tucson

Oct 9-12 EEBA Conference – PhoenixOct 10-12 Solar Electric Training --

TucsonOct 12 Sedona Solar Tour

Oct 19 Valley of the Sun Solar Tour Oct 26 Solar Seminar -- Douglas Oct 26 –27 Hot Topics and Cool Solutions Conference -- Tucson

Oct 26-27 Tucson Solar Home TourOct 30 Solar dedication Prescott Airport.

Solar ArizonaCalex Homes, in a joint venture with SRP, has

introduced both Solar Water Pre-Heating and Photovoltaic Energy (Electricity) in new home construction in three

east valley subdivisions. The system at the right is a 1.4

kW photovoltaic system on a house under construction.

Click here for larger image

Return to previous slide

Solar ArizonaThe completed house at

Johnson Ranch Lakeview Gardens (Calex Homes) has both a photovoltaic and solar water heating system. Sandia Labs is monitoring the solar

water heating system to obtain vital information on

energy efficiencies and benefits of this state-of-the-

art solar water heating system.


Solar ArizonaSRP has installed the latest in

Photovoltaic Panels, including PV shingles (center house) that match the color of

the roof. Preliminary estimates indicate these

systems will produce one (1) KW of electricity, which

should be sufficient to supply 20-60% of the required

power, depending on the season.


Solar ArizonaThis home (bottom) in

Johnson Ranch Estates in the East Valley has four 300-watt

panels that cover approximately 104 square feet of the roof surface. The array on the adjacent building (top) consists of 12 85-watt panels that covers 108 square feet of

rooftop. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaCalex Homes has teamed with SRP to offer solar

options on homes in The Estates at Johnson Ranch and Lakeview Gardens at Johnson Gardens. This model home in Johnson Ranch Estates has a 1.2 kW photovoltaic array on

the rooftop.


Solar ArizonaAs these homes

demonstrate, the solar industry has made great

strides in the past decade to integrate solar systems into

the roofs of homes. This new generation of solar

systems have quietly found their way onto rooftops

throughout Arizona, offering an aesthetically

pleasing alternative to the systems of the 1980s.


Solar Arizona"What we're literally

doing here is building a small power plant one house at a time," said John Wesley Miller,

developer/homebuilder of the 99 high-tech solar

homes in Tucson's historic Armory Park

neighborhood. Homes include solar water heating and solar

electricity.


Solar ArizonaA 2.4 kw PV system being

installed on a roof in a Scottsdale subdivision. The system is one of a

growing number of grid-connected homes in urban

areas that are taking advantage of utility rebates and tax credits to finance systems with favorable

payback terms. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaThe 2.4 kW PV system on

this Scottsdale house is eligible for a $4,800 utility

company rebate and a $1,000 state tax credit. The Arizona solar tax credit is 25% of the system cost up to a maximum of $1,000. The tax credit (ARS 43-

1083) has been in existence since 1995.. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaThis 1 kW PV system in

Scottsdale consists of 20 50-watt solar panels. The house

is grid-connected, thus the homeowners can sell solar

generated electricity back to the utility company if the

house does not have a demand for the electricity at

the time it is produced.Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaThis Prescott house does not stand out from the

others in the neighborhood, however it is different. The house collects rainwater for all household purposes. It

utilizes solar electricity and solar water heating. It is

built with certified sustainably harvested and local 'leftover' wood and utilizes cast earth and

strawbale construction.


Solar ArizonaDesigned by Prescott College student Brad Tito, the house uses a fraction of the energy

the previous house on the same site consumed. That

house was about one-quarter the size of the new one but consumed more than four

times the energy. This past January the utility bills were $22 for gas (used for cooling and water heating) and $4.23

for electricity.


Solar ArizonaSolar isn’t exactly a new phenomenon, Arizonans

began building solar homes (passive and active) in the 1970s in response to the

Energy Crisis. This home, in Flagstaff, is just one of many built throughout the

state in the late 1970s. The passive solar features

provides more than 55% of the home’s heating needs.


Solar ArizonaAnother example of the

alternative building methods employed during the 70s and 80s, this Tempe solar home is 68 percent earth covered or earth bermed. Built in 1981 this home’s features

include a rock bed for heating and cooling, an

attached greenhouse and a solar domestic water heating

system.Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaThis 1850 square foot

residence in Prescott is made of Poured Earth and features solar for all electrical needs

and hot water. The home also uses passive solar power and its 16" thick thermal walls for both

heating and cooling. Backup heat is provided by a radiant floor and a high efficiency

wood stove.Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaSolar energy is a great way to heat swimming pools.

Using the existing pool pump, water is diverted to the solar system. It then

passes through the collectors, where the water

is heated by the sun’s radiant energy. Next, the water is

returned to the pool to repeat the cycle until the pool has

been warmed. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaIn many cases, solar rooftop

systems are barely noticeable. Planned

communities and Homeowner Associations, once a barrier to growth in

the solar industry, have dropped their objections to rooftop systems. ARS 33-439 protects the rights of

homeowners to install and use solar systems on their

property.


Solar ArizonaSolar energy has long been

used in areas of the state that are not serviced by the electric utility company.

This off-grid solar house on the Navajo Reservation was

constructed by the local coal company when the

original housing structure had to be removed due to

mining activity. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaAt the Backus Ranch in central Arizona, this PV

system, installed in 1980, provides the only source of power for a family ranch

house. In areas throughout Arizona that are beyond the utility lines, PV systems are often much cheaper for the rancher than paying for a utility line extension. Click here for larger image

Solar Arizona

This 900-watt solar electric system near Sedona runs a 5-

horsepower water pump. The pump draws water from

860 feet deep. PV water pumping systems are

common throughout Arizona in areas where utility power

is unavailable. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaCivano, a planned energy-

efficient community in Tucson, includes a

neighborhood center equipped with a 6-kW PV system.

Civano home’s are 30-60% more energy efficient than the

typical home. The initial planning stages of the Civano

Project and the community center were funded by the Arizona Energy Office.


Solar ArizonaTo meet the reduced energy

goals set for the community of Civano, the builders offer

various energy efficient and renewable energy options

Among the options are photovoltaic grid-tied systems,

solar hot water heaters, and thermal mass design and masonry construction.


Solar ArizonaThis photo offers a bird’s-

eye view of the Civano development. Various

renewable energy options are available to homebuyers

including passive solar design, solar water heating and photovoltaic systems


Solar ArizonaA cool tower and shaded entrance patio highlight front of building at the

Global Solar Manufacturing facility in the community of Civano. Global Solar is a manufacturer of thin-film PV products and a major

employer in the community.


Solar ArizonaThe TEP Sunshare program pays a rebate to customers who install solar electric

systems on their homes. To date, 24 Tucson area

homeowners have taken advantage of the utility

company’s program and have received rebates ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.


Solar ArizonaCity of Tucson Southeast

Service Center: The City’s main objectives in

undertaking this project were to design and build a commercial office building

using commercially available energy efficient products and to educate staff, consultants and

contractors in application methodology.


Solar ArizonaGlendale West Area Water

Reclamation Facility:Solar panels generate hot

water and electricity for the administration building. The panels also facilitate passive solar heat gain in the winter.

The PV system generates over 12 kW per hour of electricity. The panels

provide shade for walkways and south-facing glass.


Solar ArizonaThe Safford Middle School

PV installation was completed in the fall of 2000. The 4 kW system was a joint

venture of many solar organizations in the state and was funded through a MSR

grant from US DOE. Safford is one of 14 schools in the state that have gone solar.


Solar ArizonaSolar Pond Aerator

Somerton Municipal Wastewater Treatment

Plant: Somerton estimates a 100% savings on energy costs to operate the 40hp Blower system due to the blowers being completely shut off. The estimated

cost of electricity saved is $1,080 per month ($12,960

per yr). Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaA 25 kW PV systems sits overlooking a landfill in Central Arizona. The

system was developed by APS has part of a federal grant through the Arizona Energy Office to displace

diesel generators. The system at the Graywolf Lanfill made immediate

economic sense for operators.


Solar ArizonaThis pole mounted

photovoltaic system powers a light at a trail entrance in the Tonto National Forest.

Utility grid power was several miles from the site

and line extension had to be underground, meaning that

solar electricity was the least-cost alternative on a

first-cost basis. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaTop -- Wing walls and

overhangs protect insulated window walls yet provide day lighting deep into the Sierra

Vista Library. Middle -- From the west, massive wing walls protect windows from direct sun and create shade spaces

outdoors in the park. Bottom -- At the north energy clear

insulated roof panels provide day lighting for the northern

portions of the library. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaThe design of the Sierra

Vista Library -- with south and southwest-facing glass dictated the use of low-e thermal pane glass and

window overhangs with fins.With its use of natural daylighting and other

features, the annual energy use for the new building is estimated to be one-half of

the national design standard.


Solar ArizonaInstalled in 1998 this system preheats 50,000 gallons of water daily for use by more than 1500 federal inmates

and staff at a prison north of Phoenix. The hot water is

used in the laundry, kitchen, and shower areas. Data

indicate that the system saves about $6,000 in electricity

costs per month. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaParabolic troughs are used to

heat water for the Federal Correctional Institution north of Phoenix. During normal use, a tracking device keeps

the troughs at the correct angle to capture the most solar energy. The system was

installed as part of an Energy Service Performance Contract – where a third party covers the cost of the system and is repaid from the cost savings.


Solar ArizonaThis large solar thermal system was installed at a

new barracks facility at Fort Huachuca Army Base in

Sierra Vista, Arizona. This building-integrated system was ground-mounted for

ease in maintenance.


Solar ArizonaGould Electronics of Chandler, has had its

parabolic-trough collector system since 1982. An

example of the use of oil for heat transfer, the system

provides process water for copper foil production.


Solar ArizonaUS Department of Energy

helped design the solar water heating system at the

Maricopa County Outdoor Education Center. The

system serves as an educational tool while

providing real energy, cost, and emissions savings.


Solar ArizonaThis 2 kW PV system

provides an uninterruptible power system for the US Department of Interior’s

Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Havasupai School in

Supai Village. The village is located at the bottom of the

Grand Canyon.


Solar ArizonaThis parking ramada is

located at the Yuma Proving Ground in southwestern

Arizona. As can be seen in the photo, the structure is an excellent source of shade in the hot desert climate. What can’t be seen is that the PV panels generate clean power to charge the electric carts

used on site. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaOn the Utah/Arizona border,

Dangling Rope Marina at Lake Powell

was one of the first PV installations in the National

Park Service to replace electricity produced by

diesel generators.


Solar ArizonaTwo communications towers at a remote Arizona location

are powered by a 25kW hybrid PV/diesel system. The

Carol Springs Mountain system went on-line in Aug

1995 replacing a diesel generator that ran 24/7. The

PV system powers towers for AT&T, US West, and a TV

station in Tempe. Click here for larger image

Solar Arizona TEP operates one of the world’s largest PV power

stations -- a 1.4 MW ground-mounted system in northeastern Arizona. The

plant will be expanded to 2.4 MW of generating capacity

by the end of 2002. The plant began generating

electricity one month after construction started in June 2001. The entire system was

on-line in five months.


Solar ArizonaTEP also has a 200 kW solar

power plant at its DeMoss Petrie Station in Tucson.


Solar ArizonaThis SRP Solar Power Plant

consists 588 modules covering approximately 24,418 square feet. The array DC power is

converted to 208 Volts AC and interconnected to the SRP

distributionsystem by a 12.47 kV isolation

transformer. The ac power rating is 200 kW.

The PV system is located at SRP's Agua Fria Generating

Station.Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaThe largest system under test

at APS’s Solar Test and Research (STAR) Center is a

high-performance “concentrating” PV power generator. Although not

suitable for small projects, concentrator systems have

very good potential for large-scale power generation.


Solar Arizona The concentrating collector

at the STAR Center produces 20 kW of

electricity, or about enough to power five Phoenix-area homes. Systems like these

may someday provide power for entire communities.

Presently, a system similar to this is under construction near the Prescott Airport in

the northern part of the state.


Solar Arizona APS is evaluating the

performance of the latest in dish/Stirling solar power

systems at its STAR Center near Phoenix. Capable of

producing 25 kW of electricity, the system uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto a thermal receiver,

which runs a Stirling heat engine, which drives an

electric generator.


Solar ArizonaOnce perfected and

manufactured on a large scale, the dish/Stirling

engine has the potential to become one of the cheapest solar energy technologies

available.


Solar ArizonaAPS and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

jointly constructed a 190 kW solar power plant

north of Prescott. Opened in March 2001, the solar power facility

produces enough energy to power 25 to 40 homes.


Solar ArizonaThe 125-kW APS solar power plant located in

Gilbert consists of 10 solar arrays, which will track the sun from east to west on a

single axis. The plant, which was dedicated in

April 2001, feeds directly into the APS electric grid.


Solar ArizonaIn 2001, Glendale

partnered with APS to build the world’s first commercial

application of high-concentration PV arrays at

the Glendale Municipal Airport. This technology

tracks the sun’s movement and employs special

lenses to magnify the sun’s rays 250 times onto each

solar cell. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaBoyce-Thompson Arboretum rests at the base of the Picket

Post Mountains of central Arizona, east of Superior. Established in 1920, the

arboretum/botanical garden, cultivates desert plants from

all over the world. The Arboretum is part of APS’

Project Sol – and is outfitted with a 2 kW solar array on its

visitor center.Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaChallenger Learning Center is

an innovative educational center exploring the wonders

of outer space. Located northwest of Phoenix, the

Center offers space exploration programs for

students and the public. The Center’s roof also supports a

2 kW solar array that provides additional educational

experiences for students.Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaThe Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant is also part

of the APS Project Sol. Located north of Phoenix, the Center interprets the region's flora, fauna and

geology through a variety of programs open to the

public. A 2 kW solar array provides power to the

Center. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaLowell Observatory is the perfect location for a solar array. Well known for both its astronomical research, Lowell Observatory was established by Percival

Lowell in 1894. From the observatory on Mars Hill, scientists discovered the

planet Pluto and established first evidence of an

expanding universe. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaNamed for Arizona

writer/historian Sharlot Hall and housed in the Arizona

territorial Governor's Mansion in Prescott, a log

home built in 1864, the museum displays artifacts

from Arizona's pioneer era. The museum’s visitor

center has a roof mounted 2 kW solar array. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaAPS and the City of

Scottsdale have partnered to build 186 kW of solar generation at the City’s

facilities. Projects include solar covered parking, on a

library and water tanks. The City also purchases

solar energy under the APS Solar Partner Program.


Solar ArizonaAPS and the City of

Scottsdale partnered on a solar power plant at the

Scottsdale Water Campus. The facility feeds 300 kW of solar energy – enough to

provide for the electrical needs of up to 100

homes – to the electric grid. Click here for larger image

Solar ArizonaLocated on the grounds of the APS Solar Test and Research Center

(STAR Center) in Tempe, this solar plant generates 182 kW of solar energy

for use by all APS customers.



The following organizations contributed photos for this CD:

Al Nichols EngineeringArizona Energy OfficeArizona Solar CenterArizona Public ServiceAz. Solar Energy Ind. AssociationAmerican SolarCalex HomesCity of Glendale City of TucsonJohn Miller HomesLiving Systems Architecture Dr. Martin J. Pasqualetti Prescott CollegeSalt River ProjectUS DOE -- NREL

Solar Arizona

Documents

Transcript of Solar Arizona