Tucson-based Solon Corp. has installed the state's largest school-district solar system on four schools in Paradise Valley in the Phoenix area.
The nearly 2.7 megawatts of photovoltaic systems comprise 973 kilowatts of solar energy capacity on Shadow Mountain High School, 940 kW on North Canyon High School, 462 kW on Pinnacle High School and 288 kW on Horizon High School, Solon said.
The systems, now in commercial operation, will supply the schools with about 27 percent of their power needs, said Ken Carter, director of purchasing for the Paradise Valley Unified School District.
Solon engineered and built the polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic systems and manufactured the solar modules at its Tucson-based manufacturing plant.
Solon worked with Arizona Public Service Co., which serves Paradise Valley, to provide financial incentives for the grid-tied systems.
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Under a solar service agreement, the school district avoids any up-front system purchase cost by buying the power at a fixed rate, providing a hedge against future electricity rate increases. Solon has partnered with SunEdison LLC to manage these systems.
Such agreements were approved last year by the Arizona Corporation Commission.