SunPower to Supply Rooftop Solar Power Systems to Tucson Electric Power

SunPower, a company that produces and delivers solar panels and systems, declared that Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has granted a contract to it for the supply of 11 MW solar power systems for the proposed TEP Bright Roofs program of the utility.

According to the accord, Tucson Electric Power will utilize the technology of SunPower to erect, own and manage a number of solar systems over the leased roof spaces of public buildings and schools located in the Tucson area. For the purpose of installation TEP will utilize the T5 Solar Roof Tile, a non-penetrating type of rooftop product of SunPower, which combines the frame, solar panel and the mounting system as a single pre-fabricated unit. The T5 system when installed in a tilted five degree angle generates almost double the power of a normal flat type rooftop installation. The rooftop installations when completed will be linked to the power grid of TEP and will provide clean power to around 1,800 homes in Tucson area. The installed SunPower systems will assist TEP with clean solar power generation for over 25 years.

The new solar energy sources will assist TEP to fulfill the renewable energy standard (RES) of Arizona, which requires the utility companies to have 15% renewable clean energy in their portfolio of offerings by the year 2025. The policy requires TEP to source 3% of its current energy supply from renewable energy sources by the year 2011.