Arizona State University has become the only educational institution in the USA to have more than 10 MW solar power generation capability. The power generated from the installation is adequate to meet the electricity requirements of around 2,500 homes in Arizona.
The 168-kilowatt (dc) solar installation at the Verde Dickey Dome on the Arizona State University Tempe campus pushes ASU past 10 megawatts (MW) of solar-energy capacity, making ASU the only higher education institution in the United States to have a solar capacity of this size. Credit: ASU
ASU has achieved the coveted 10 MW by completing a 168 kW and 700 panel ground mounted solar PV installation at its Tempe campus. A part of the solar installation at ASU is completed by the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program, which provides financial incentives to clients who use renewable power generation facilities for power generation at home or businesses.
ASU started taking advantage of its sunny geographical location to generate solar power in 2004 by completing a 34 kW solar panel installation over the parking structure on Tempe campus in Tyler Street. During the years, a number of its business partners such as Sun Devil Solar, Strategic Solar Energy, Solar Power Partners, NRG Energy, Lafferty Electric Technologies, Independent Energy Group of Arizona, CarbonFree Technology, Blue Renewable Energy and Ameresco Southwest, have played a vital role in assisting ASU to achieve its present 10 MW power generation capability.
The solar installations erected over the roof tops of the parking structures at the University buildings while providing shade for the scorching Arizona sun also enables the University to generate renewable energy to save on its energy costs. The solar installations presently functioning at two of its four campuses at West and Tempe will generate enough power to meet nearly 20% of the University’s peak power requirement and will bring down its carbon footprint by around 10%.