Solar power generation
SRP has three primary avenues for generating solar power: partnering with communities and businesses, SRP owned
facilities, and SRP subsidized customer-owned systems through the EarthWise Solar Energy program. Together,
these three generating avenues send close to 2.7 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power to the grid each year, or
enough energy to power 195 homes.
Phoenix Pecos Park Community Center
- Generates 38.8 kW
- Built 2007
Under a cooperative, co-funding agreement with the City of Phoenix, SRP installed a solar
power system at the Pecos Park Community Center. The solar power system is mounted on the roof of the center with
each row of modules tilted to improve the collection efficiency. Estimated energy production is 58,000 kilowatt-hours
(kWh) per year.
Scottsdale Senior Center
- Generates 40 kW
- Built 2007
SRP, joined by the City of Scottsdale, installed a solar power system at the Scottsdale
Senior Center. The system consists of three sub systems: a 33.6 kW DC main system located on the roof, a small
1.6 kW DC system located adjacent to main system and a 4.8 kW DC building integrated system located on a trellis
structure at the entrance of the center.
Scottsdale Arcadia High School
- Generates 9.4 kW
- Built 2007
In cooperation with the Scottsdale School District, SRP installed a solar power system on
the concession building at Scottsdale Arcadia High School. The solar power system uses Uni-Solar field-applied
roofing photovoltaic (PV) laminates. These PV laminates use a thin film triple junction technology that can be
bonded directly to a metal roof. Estimated energy production is 15,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year for the
photovoltaic system. In return for hosting the system, the school district has unrestricted access to operations
and performance data from the system.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Generates 9.4 kW
- Built 2006
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation partnered with SRP to install a Uni-Solar field-applied
roofing PV laminate system. The laminates were bonded to the roofs of two of the parking canopies at the bureau's
offices. The PV laminates cover an area of 162 square feet. Estimated energy production is 15,000 kilowatt-hours
(kWh) per year for the photovoltaic system. In return for hosting the system, the Bureau has unrestricted access
to operations and performance data from the system.
Phoenix Pecos Park and Ride
- Generates 101.6 kW
- Built 2004
In cooperation with the city of Phoenix, SRP has installed two PV systems at the Phoenix
Pecos Park and Ride Facility. The primary system utilizes the tops of two of the parking structure canopies for
mounting of solar modules. In addition modules are installed on the roof of the Park and Ride Security Building. |
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 | Red Mountain Library, City of Mesa
Generates 24 kW
Built 2004
In a cooperative effort with the city of Mesa, SRP designed and installed a solar power covered parking system at the
Red Mountain Library. These systems utilize a newer, flexible, thin-film technology that is attached to the canopy
structure using an adhesive. While these "peel and stick" modules are lower in efficiency, they are more durable and
less susceptible to damage. These systems are owned, operated and maintained by SRP at a site owned by the city of Mesa. |
Altier Federal Credit Union
Generates 3.0 kW
Built 2004
SRP installed a demonstration system on the roof of the Altier Credit Union to test a new non-intrusive PV installation
system from PowerLight Corporation of Berkeley, CA. There are 48 interlocking modules that utilize a perimeter weighting
system. The mounting brackets utilize the weight of the system rather than roof penetration. SRP owns, operates and
maintains the system. |  |
Cesar Chavez High School
Generates 1.2 kW
Built 2001
SRP installed this system as an educational opportunity with PV technology. Data from the system is used by the school for educational purposes. SRP owns, operates, and maintains the system.
Scottsdale Community College
Generates 1.2 kW
Built 2000
This system was installed on the roof on the Physics Building. The modules are tilted 35 degrees from horizontal (the angle is dependant on the latitude of the location where the panels are installed). The system is owned, operated and maintained by the college.
South Mountain Community College
Generates 1.8 kW
Built 1999
SRP installed this system as a demonstration project and part of an educational opportunity to integrate technology into the school curriculum. Data is available for use by the college for educational purposes. The system in owned, operated and maintained by SRP.
Chandler House
Generates 3.0 kW
Built 1995
SRP installed its first residential system on the Chandler Research House in 1995 in a collaborative effort with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). In 2005 a second system was installed to demonstrate the process a typical homeowner might experience when purchasing and installing a system through the EarthWise Energy™ program.
Rogers 1, 2 & 3
Generates 400 kW
Built 2003-05
In 2003 SRP moved two 100 kW PV systems from the Santan Generating Station in Gilbert, AZ. In 2005 the Rogers PV system was expanded with an additional 200 kW of PV at Rogers 3. This new system incorporates a horizontal single axis tracking system. The tracker moves the modules in an east-west motion to follow the sun.
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Agua Fria Solar
Generates 200 kW
Built 2001
This single axis tracking PV system was installed to provide renewable energy support to SRP's EarthWise Energy™ program. The system is located at the Agua Fria Generating Station and is operated and maintained by the station's operations staff.
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SRP Tempe Service Center Warehouse
Generates 75 kW
Built 2005
SRP's largest rooftop system to date was installed at the new Tempe Service Center Warehouse. The free standing mounting structure requires no roof penetrations or system ballast, and can withstand winds up to 100 mph.
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Coronado Generating Station Solar
Generates 20 kW
Built 2005
Continuing an effort to install and demonstrate PV power systems at SRP facilities, we installed a system on the canopy structure at the south end of the PERA Building at the Coronado Generating Station. The solar energy produced by the system will offset the auxiliary power requirements of the plant.
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Arizona Falls Solar
Generates 2.5 kW
Built 2003
Arizona Falls is a low-impact hydro-electric facility which incorporates part of a retired hydroelectric plant originally built circa 1911. Solar panels mounted on the shade structure further enhance clean energy production at the site, where even the ceiling fans are powered by the sun.
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At SRP, we know few things are as integral to our lives as the sun. It lights our sky, warms our bodies, and now can power your home or business. Launched in 2004, EarthWise Solar Energy is a program designed to help reduce the cost of installing a new solar electric or solar water heating system for your home or business. The goal of the program is to encourage investment and interest in solar power - an emissions-free and inexhaustible source of energy.
(Residential Application) (Commercial Application)
Arizona Dept. of Emergency and Military Affairs
Built 2007
SRP installed a demonstration solar absorption cooling system, powered by solar collectors and an absorption chiller, at the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA). Solar cooling provides an advantage over traditional heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) by matching the highest cooling demand with the strongest summer sunshine. Estimated energy savings over a traditional HVAC unit could be as high as 14,000 kWh per year. SRP has contracted a study to investigate the actual energy savings for this system.
How solar cooling systems work
Solar panels provide the source of heat to drive the cooling process. An absorption chiller utilizes this hot water to evaporate process water under a vacuum to produce cold water. The chilled water is piped to a building mounted air handler and cool air is blown into the building. The demand for grid electricity is reduced when the solar absorption chiller reduces the load on the conventional HVAC unit. In the Southwest, this load reduction typically takes place when it is needed most, during peak summer demand periods.