May 4, 2009
Phoenix, AZ, USA:
Arizona State University Energizes West Campus with
Solar Project
ASU energizes West campus with large solar project Arizona State University
has begun an ambitious project to install 3.3 MW of renewable energy
capacity via solar cells on its West campus.
"The project primarily will utilize open space on the West campus and will
meet nearly all of its energy needs", said David Brixen, ASU interim vice
president of university services. It is part of the second phase of ASU’s
overall solarization project on all of its campuses.
“The new solar photovoltaic system at ASU West is a significant investment
for our campus,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “It is a smart investment
in that it will pay back in annual dividends to ASU and to Arizona by taking
the West campus partially off the traditional energy grid and putting it on
one that is based on a renewable and sustainable energy source that does not
pollute our environment.”
The solar cells will be located between 49th and 51st avenues, south of the
Las Casas residence complex. Most of the installation will be in an open
area, but Brixen said some of the solar cells will cover existing parking
areas, providing shade to cars. Construction is expected to begin this
summer with the system operational by December 2009.
“We are currently contemplating up to 7 MW total for the West campus,”
Brixen said. “But if we went to that scale, we would need to secure more
areas.”
The West campus solar project is part of an overall effort by Arizona State
University to transition to renewable energy systems for its power. Already,
the Tempe campus has built solar photovoltaic systems that produce
approximately 2 MW of power. When phase 2 of this project is completed, ASU
will have built solar cell systems that generate more than 10 MW of power on
all of its four campuses, Brixen said.
Three companies are providing the solar cell systems and infrastructure for
the overall ASU project. They are Independent Energy Group, APS Energy
Services and Carbon Free Technology. APS Energy Services is installing the
photovoltaic systems on the West campus.
“We believe that when these projects are completed, the 10 MW of solar
energy will be the largest university solar photovoltaic system in the
U.S.,” Brixen said.
Further details about:
Arizona State University
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