Arizona State University's (ASU) polytechnic campus in Mesa, Arizona, has become home to a 1MW PV system engineered and constructed by PV developer SunPower.
The system represents the first commercial deployment of SunPower’s C7 Tracker technology, a tracking system which, the company claims, concentrates the sun's power seven times to achieve one of the lowest levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) for solar power plants available today.
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The C7 Tracker combines single-axis tracking technology with rows of parabolic mirrors which reflect light onto SunPower Maxeon solar cells. These cells have an efficiency of 22.8%.
In addition to building the system, SunPower is also operating and maintaining the facility which is expected to generate enough power to meet the demands of around 225 homes.
All output will be sold by SunPower to electricity provider Solar River Project (SRP) under a power purchase agreement. ASU is purchasing the power from SRP for use at its polytechnic campus under a separate agreement.
“This dynamic project with SunPower enables ASU to move closer to our 2015, 25-megawatt solar energy-generating goal, embrace innovative technologies, and facilitate possible education opportunities for our students,” said David Brixen, ASU's associate vice president of facilities development and management.