SunEdison, the solar energy development subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, and Solon, a crystalline silicon solar module manufacturer, have activated a 1MW PV solar power plant near the Roger Road Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Pima County.
The project has been developed through a solar services agreement between Pima County and SunEdison, under which Pima County will purchase the energy produced from the 1MW solar deployment from SunEdison at predictable energy rates for 20 years.
SunEdison has financed and will own the 1MW solar power plant, while its operation and maintenance will be provided under a contract by Tucson-based Solon, which has designed and constructed the power plant utilizing Solon modules and single-axis tracking technology.
The development of the solar power plant, which is expected to produce over 2 million kWh of energy annually and more than 40 million kWh of energy over the next 20 years, will allow the County to meet 15% of its energy needs using renewable resources by 2025.
In addition, the solar power plant is anticipated to offset more than 47 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the initial 20 years of operation, helping Pima County reach its sustainability goals.
SunEdison vice president of government affairs Rick Gilliam said that the activation of this 1MW deployment is a testament to SunEdison’s strong financing capabilities and solid partnerships that allow us to provide solar solutions for government entities throughout the world.