World's first commercial-scale SunCatcher solar plant, Maricopa Solar, unveiled

A first-of-its-kind solar thermal plant is pumping sun-generated energy into the Valley's transmission grid system and providing electricity for consumers. The commercial-scale Maricopa Solar plant in Peoria is a collaboration of Stirling Energy Systems (SES) of Scottsdale and its sister company, Texas-based Tessera Solar.

"This project is an important learning opportunity for us at SRP and, we hope, the beginning of a much broader application of solar technologies in the years ahead," SRP General Manager Dick Silverman said at a recent ribboncutting event for the plant held for major partners, stakeholders and the press. The plant features low-cost, no-water-use solar thermal technology that delivers a highly efficient sun-to-grid conversion ratio. That means less energy is lost as the solar DC power is converted to grid AC power.

Tessera Solar is leasing the land from SRP, and SRP is buying the renewable energy credits as well as the 1.5 megawatts (MW) of output (enough to power about 200 homes) from the demonstration plant. Located next to SRP's Agua Fria Generating Station, the solar plant is operated by Tessera Solar under a 10-year agreement. SES manufactures the SunCatcher technology; the main components of the SunCatchers at Maricopa Solar were manufactured mostly in Michigan by automotive suppliers and then assembled in Arizona on-site.

Part of SRP's Sustainable Portfolio

The plant will help fulfill SRP's Sustainable Portfolio goal of providing 15% of retail energy needs with sustainable energy by 2025. About 6.5% of SRP's retail sales currently are produced from sustainable resources. The Maricopa Solar plant is intended as a template for much larger commercial SunCatcher projects: 1,600 MW of SunCatcher utility-scale projects have been announced by Tessera/SES for California and Texas.