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Solar power in Arizona

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Insolation on developable areas of the SW United States.

Solar power in Arizona has the potential to, according to then-Governor Janet Napolitano, make Arizona "the Persian Gulf of solar energy". In 2012, Arizona had 1,106 MW of photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems, and 6 MW of concentrated solar power (CSP), bringing the total to over 1,112 megawatts (MW) of solar power. As an example, the Solana Generating Station, a 280 MW parabolic trough solar plant, when commissioned in 2013, was the largest parabolic trough plant in the world and the first U.S. solar plant with molten salt thermal energy storage.[1]

A Renewable Portfolio Standard set by the Arizona Corporation Commission requires 15% renewable energy by 2025 among regulated utilities, 4.5% of which must come from distributed renewable energy sources.

History

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Solar Array
Arizona State University solar array

The first commercial solar power system in the state was a 95 kilowatt (kW) single-axis tracking photovoltaic plant in Flagstaff, Arizona, opened in October 1997 and operated by Arizona Public Service (APS).[2][3] In 1999, the city of Scottsdale covered an 8,500 square feet (790 m2) parking lot with photovoltaic panels, to both provide shaded parking, and generate 93 kW of solar power. In 2001 APS and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University constructed a 190 kW single-axis tracking photovoltaic power plant.


In 2001, the Springerville Generating Station Solar System was built by Tucson Electric Power, one of the first large scale photovoltaic power stations. Originally 4.6 MW, it has been expanded to 6.4 MW.[4][5] In 2002, Love Field Airport, in Prescott, Arizona, began construction of a 5 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power plant. By July 2006, it had a peak capacity of 2.879 MWAC.[6][7]

The two operating concentrated solar power plants are the 1 MW Saguaro Solar Power Plant completed in 2005, the first commercial CSP plant of the 3rd millennium, and a 5 MW solar trough system at the University of Arizona Solar Tech Park project which was completed in 2011.[8] The 280 MW Solano Generating Station is under construction. The 1.5 MW Maricopa Solar Power Plant completed in 2010, using Stirling dish technology,[9][10] was decommissioned in September 2011 and sold at auction on April 17, 2012[11] to CondiSys Solar Technology of China, for $250,000.[12]

In 2008 Governor Janet Napolitano said that Arizona had the potential to become "the Persian Gulf of solar energy".[13] In 2012, the NREL determined that Arizona has the potential to install 5,147 GW of photovoltaic power plants, and/or up to 3,528 GW of concentrated solar power plants (CSP), sufficient to generate more than three times total US consumption in 2012.[14] According to a study by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research, Arizona installed over 55 megawatts of solar power in 2010, doubling its 2009 increase of 21 MW, ranking it behind California (259 MW), New Jersey (137 MW), Florida (110 MW), and Nevada (61 MW).[15] By the end of 2011, Arizona had installed 383 MW of photovoltaics, in third place, behind New Jersey, and California.

In 2012 the first 100 MW of the Agua Caliente Solar Project was connected to the grid, making it the largest photovoltaic power plant in North America, and third largest in the world, being slightly larger than the 97 MW Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant. By July over 200 MW had been completed, making it the largest photovoltaic power plant in the world.[16] By September 2012, 250 MW (AC) had been completed.[17]

Solar cells above a parking lot, Ocotillo

In January 2013, 150 MW of the 700 MW Mesquite Solar project photovoltaic power plant was completed.[18] As of January 30, 2013, 19 projects, with a total nameplate capacity of 13.45 gigawatts (GW) were seeking permission to build on federally owned BLM land in Arizona,[19][20] and one, the 300 MW Sonoran Solar Project was approved,[21] but the project fell through and not developed.

Solar power system, Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center

The Solana Generating Station completed testing in October 2013. The 280 MW parabolic trough solar plant is the largest plant of its type in the world.[22][23] Solana includes 6 hours of power storage by molten salt. The plant will provide 5% of the power for Arizona Public Service, the state's largest utility.

Historically, Arizona has had one of the most successful solar incentive programs in the United States. However, as of February, 2013, the Arizona Corporation Commission has completely eliminated commercial incentives and has severely reduced the amount of residential incentives available.[24] Still, some of the country's largest solar providers continue to do business in the state, including the largest solar contractor in the US, First Solar.[25]

Community solar farms

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Main article: Community solar farm

Arizona has two community solar farms. Tucson Electric Power has a 1.6 MW community solar farm southeast of Tucson. Consumers can purchase 150 kWh for about $3/month. The 227 kW Trico Sun Farm in Marana allows Trico customers to purchase solar panels in one quarter increments for $920, and receive a credit of the output, about 36 kWh, each month for 20 years, worth about $5.[26] Customers can purchase up to their average usage for the last 12 months, up to 10,000 watts.[27]

Statistics

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Capacity

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2017 electricity generation in Arizona by source.
Arizona Solar Capacity (MWp)[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
Year Photovoltaics CSP
Capacity Installed % Change Capacity Installed % Change
2007 18.9 2.8 17 1 0
2008 25.3 6.2 34 1 0
2009 46.2 21.1 83 1 0
2010 110.0 63.6 138 2.5 1.5 150
2011 397.6 287.8 261 6 3.5 140
2012 1,106.4 708.8 178 6 0 0
2013 1,563.1 423.7 37 283.7 277.3
2014 2,069 287.8 32 283.7 0 0
2015 2,303 234 11 283.7 0 0
2016 2,943 640 27.7 283.7 0 0
2017 3,423 480 16.3 283.7 0 0
2018 3,863 440 12.9 283.7 0 0
2019 4,645.9 782.9 20.2 283.7 0 0
2020 5,175.7 529.8 11.4 283.7 0 0
2021 5,643.6 467.9 9
2022 6,330 686.4 12
2023 7,675 1,345 21

Generation

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2017 AZ Solar Energy Generation Profile
2015 Monthly Solar Profile for AZ[35]
Arizona utility-scale solar electric generation[36]
Year Generation
(GWh) 		Generation
(% of AZ total) 		Generation
(% of US Solar)
2010 16 <0.1% 1.3%
2011 83 0.1% 4.6%
2012 955 0.9% 22.1%
2013 2,111 1.9% 23.4%
2014 3,142 2.8% 16.9%
2015 3,457 3.1% 13.9%
2016 3,766 3.5% 10.4%
2017 4,942 4.7% 9.3%
2018* 5,171 4.6% 7.8%
2019** 6.6%

(*) Preliminary data from Electric Power Monthly. (**) Data from Solar Energy Industries Association.

Beginning with the 2014 data year, Energy Information Administration has estimated distributed solar photovoltaic generation and distributed solar photovoltaic capacity. These non-utility scale estimates project that, Arizona generated the following additional solar energy.

Estimated Distributed Solar Electric Generation in Arizona[37][38]
Year Summer Capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh)
2014 511.7 916
2015 641.6 1,370
2016 871.8 1,655
2017 1068.6 1,893
2018 1262.9 2,307

Large solar farms

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Main articles: List of power stations in Arizona § Solar photovoltaic plants, and List of power stations in Arizona § Solar thermal plants
MW Name County Location Technology Notes
400 Mesquite Solar project Maricopa County west of Arlington
33°20′00″N 112°55′00″W / 33.33333°N 112.91667°W / 33.33333; -112.91667 (Mesquite Solar project) 		photovoltaic 150 MW phase 1 online Jan 2013[39]

100 MW phase 2 online Dec 2016[40]
150 MW phase 3 online Dec 2016[41]
Total of 700 MW proposed.[42]

290 Agua Caliente Solar Project Yuma County Palomas Plain
32°58′45″N 113°29′45″W / 32.97917°N 113.49583°W / 32.97917; -113.49583 (Agua Caliente Solar Project) 		photovoltaic 290 MW AC online April 2014[43]
280 Solana Generating Station Maricopa County southwest of Phoenix
32°55′00″N 112°58′00″W / 32.91667°N 112.96667°W / 32.91667; -112.96667 (Solana Generating Station) 		solar thermal with
6 hours storage 		Two 140 MW generators online October 2013.[44]
125 Arlington Valley Solar Energy II Maricopa County west of Arlington
33°18′18″N 112°50′02″W / 33.30500°N 112.83389°W / 33.30500; -112.83389 (Arlington Valley Solar Energy II) 		photovoltaic 125 MW AC online May 2013[45]
100 East Line Solar Pinal County Coolidge photovoltaic 100 MW AC online December 2020[46]
100 Central Line Solar Pinal County Between Coolidge and Eloy photovoltaic 100 MW AC online April 28, 2022[citation needed]
100 Saint Solar Pinal County Casa Grande photovoltaic 100 MW AC online December 2020[47]
100 West Line Solar Pinal County Eloy
32°45′49″N 111°36′0″W / 32.76361°N 111.60000°W / 32.76361; -111.60000 (West Line Solar) 		photovoltaic 100 MW AC online February 7 2023[48]
45 Sandstone Pinal County Florence
33°03′40″N 111°45′22″W / 33.06111°N 111.75611°W / 33.06111; -111.75611 (Sandstone Solar) 		photovoltaic 45 MW AC online February 2016[49]

Proposed

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MW Name County Location Technology Notes
400 CO Bar Solar Coconino County northwest of Flagstaff photovoltaic [50]
340 Hualapai Valley Solar Project Mohave County Hualapai Valley
35°36′N 114°0′W / 35.600°N 114.000°W / 35.600; -114.000 (Hualapai Valley Solar Project)[51] 		parabolic trough [52][53]
325 Hyder Valley Solar Energy Project Yuma County Palomas Plain
33°05′N 113°13′W / 33.083°N 113.217°W / 33.083; -113.217 (Hyder Valley)[54] 		parabolic trough 200 MW phase 1, 125 MW phase 2
300 Sonoran Solar Project Maricopa County south of Buckeye
33°14′N 112°34′W / 33.24°N 112.56°W / 33.24; -112.56 (Sonoran Solar Energy Project)[55] 		photovoltaic [56] Approved late 2011[57]
215 Crossroads Solar Energy Project Maricopa County west of Gila Bend
32°58′N 112°53′W / 32.96°N 112.89°W / 32.96; -112.89 (Crossroads Solar Energy Project)[58] 		solar power tower with 10 hours of heat storage; 65 MW of PV [59][60][61]
200 Brittlebush Solar, (previously called Randolph Solar) Pinal County Adjacent to Coolidge Generating Station
32°55′03″N 111°30′12″W / 32.9174°N 111.5033°W / 32.9174; -111.5033 (Coolidge, Az) 		photovoltaic 200 MW [62][63]
100 Quartzsite Solar Energy Project La Paz County north of Quartzsite
33°48′N 114°12′W / 33.8°N 114.2°W / 33.8; -114.2 (Quartzsite Solar Energy Project)[64] 		power tower [56]
60 Babbit Ranch Solar and Storage Project Coconino County northwest of Flagstaff photovoltaic [65]
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Net metering

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As of June 2021, Arizona was served primarily by Arizona Public Service company, Tucson Electric Power and UniSource Energy Services.[66]

In 2008, Arizona had one of the most consumer-friendly net metering laws in the country. Excess generation is rolled over month to month, and any surplus was returned annually to the consumer at the avoided cost rate.[67] IREC best practices, based on experience, recommends perpetual roll over of kWh credits.[68] Arizona had 642 MW of rooftop solar in 2015.[69] Historically, the states' utilities have led repeated, failed efforts to eliminate net metering.[70] But after a year of wrangling with the solar industry, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC)[71] decided in December 2016 to lower net-metering reimbursement rates significantly, leading to a temporary lull in rooftop solar installations because the lower rates made solar installations less economical for most residential and commercial installations.[72] In 2017, ACC approved stopping net metering entirely.[73]

In September 2018, Tucson Electric introduced a new solar export program for homeowners.[74]

Renewable Portfolio Standard

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Main article: Renewable portfolio standards in the United States

The Arizona Renewable Portfolio Standard calls for 15% renewable energy by 2025, and 4.5% (30% of that) from distributed generation from renewable sources.[75] Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), may be purchased to meet the requirement.[76]

Arizona Solar Business Directory

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The Arizona Solar Business Directory[77] contains almost 100 solar installation companies that do business in Arizona and is maintained by the Arizona Solar Power Society. The business directory allows consumers and commercial customers to contact a number of different companies to get the best deal and best performing products in the solar industry.

Arizona Solar Watchdog Program

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The purpose of the Arizona Solar Watchdog Program[78] is to teach consumers how to check a solar installation contractor's license, credentials and work history. Every contractor in Arizona needs to be registered with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC).[79] Each contractor is issued a Registrar of Contractors' license number, which can be looked up using the step-by-step process outlined under the Arizona Solar Watchdog Program.

See also

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References

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  2. ^ "First solar energy plant planned for Arizona". American City Business Journals. May 8, 1997. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
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  4. ^ "Springerville Employee Enjoys Connections and Community". Tucson Electric Power.
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  10. ^ "Striling Dish Tessera Maricopa". basinandrangewatch.org.
  11. ^ Former Stirling power plant in Peoria to be sold, disassembled
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  38. ^ “Electric Power Monthly”[4] |title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2019 with data for December 2018) – Table 1.17.B. Net Generation from Solar Photovoltaic retrieved 2019 3 19
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  57. ^ Solar Development on Public Lands in Arizona
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  66. ^ Romero, Rosie (June 17, 2021). "Rosie on the House: Tips so TEP customers can stay cool, save money". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
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  77. ^ Arizona Solar Business Directory
  78. ^ Arizona Solar Watchdog Program Archived 2012-07-31 at archive.today
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