Eighty-five percent of the year, the sun shines in Tucson, making the Solar Zone at UA Tech Park the perfect place for testing, evaluation, and demonstration of solar technologies.
The Solar Zone is one of several "innovation hubs" at the Tech Park. Ten companies and organizations test and demonstrate a variety of solar technologies and systems. The site generates 23 megawatts of power which is nearly twice the daily electrical consumption of the Tech Park. Here, researchers and companies work together to evaluate how these technologies perform side-by-side under identical operating conditions.Click here to download the Solar Zone brochure. And not only do we have a lot of sunshine, but we have great sunshine - it shines here with an optimal solar radiance. That means that solar technologies can be tested efficiently and thoroughly year-round.
The Solar Zone is one of the largest grid-level multi-technology solar evaluation sites in the United States. The first-of-its-kind solar-centric research park integrates:
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Power generation by multiple technologies
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Research and development
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Materials and supplies
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Manufacturing and distribution of solar equipment and hardware
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Green job and workforce training
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Educational outreach
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Public demonstration and awareness hub
Phase One of the Solar Zone is a partnership between the University of Arizona and Tucson Electric Power. Its focus is on installing multiple solar technologies so that when the power is generated, these technologies can be tested and evaluated side-by-side under identical operating conditions. University of Arizona researchers are testing everything from solar power forecasting to the environmental impact of solar energy installations.
Phase Two focuses on additional research and the development of new applications to meet the increasing demand for new products, applications, and systems.
Applications may range from military usages to transportation, to consumer electronics. Advances such as nanotechnology will drive this research and development by reducing size and weight and increasing efficiency.
Key Facts
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Phase One of the Solar Zone occupies 233 acres of land
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Projects generate 23 MW of power
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Tucson Electric Power uses all power generated in the Solar Zone to expand its renewable energy resources in Southern Arizona
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95,000 solar panels and more than 100 solar concentrators are used in generating power
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Capital investment exceeds $120 million
Strategic Advantage
The Solar Zone offers:
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Abundant space: Our spacious site allows you to test various technologies side by side under similar condition
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Raw material: Our Southern Arizona location provides an exceptionally high level of solar irradiance
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Speed to market: Our understanding of the solar industry facilitates companies' success
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Talent: The University of Arizona is training the next generation of solar professionals
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Expertise: The Solar Zone is part of the University of Arizona, which has internationally recognized expertise in solar and renewable energy. UA entities involved in the Solar Zone include the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy, College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Optics, Department of Physics, the UA Institute for the Environment, and BioSphere 2
Contact us to learn how your company can be part of this award-winning community of solar innovators.