Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

SunPower to build largest solar power system on US Government property in Arizona

SunPower Corp. has announced that it has signed an agreement with Arizona Public Service (APS) in the U.S. to design and construct a 15-megawatt (MW) (AC) solar photovoltaics (PV) power system at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona. Scheduled for completion next summer, it is expected to be the largest solar power installation at a U.S. government facility. According to the company, approximately 550 local jobs will be created during construction.

In total the system should generate the equivalent energy required for 3,750 Arizona homes. Image: Wikipedia/Madden.

"Installed on 101 acres of underutilized land, this system will generate the equivalent of 50 percent of the annual energy requirements for Luke Air Force Base," said Air Force Lt. Col. John Thomas, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron commander at Luke. "Benefits of the project to the American taxpayers include no initial out-of-pocket expenses to the Air Force, significant long-term savings on electricity costs, and the increased energy independence associated with using reliable, emission-free solar power."

"APS is committed to building a sustainable future, which includes the expansion of our renewable energy portfolio," said Brad Albert, general manager of Renewable Energy and Resource Acquisition of APS. "This plant will not only bring more clean renewable energy to the grid, but will also create jobs during its construction."

APS will own the system that SunPower designs, builds and maintains, and sell electricity to Luke Air Force Base under a long-term agreement. In total, says SunPower, it will generate the equivalent energy required for 3,750 Arizona homes, avoiding more than 19,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates.

Construction is expected to commence in January once environmental assessments, permitting and site preparation is complete.