Arizona Opens the Solar Technology Institute

State universities assist $4 million effort to grow renewable energy.

June 2009

In late April, Science Foundation Arizona announced the opening of the Solar Technology Institute (STI) and five new solar technology initiatives. STI is a collaborative effort between the state's solar industry and the research arms of the University of Arizona (UA) and Arizona State University (ASU), aimed at expanding leadership in renewable energy. The solar investments and the formation of STI will also help Arizona meet its renewable energy standard, which requires 15% of all regulated electric utilities to generate 15% of their energy from renewable resources by 2025.

The five solar investments, totaling $4 million, are:

• Concentrator Photovoltaics—Researchers at UA and ASU are collaborating on next-generation, low-cost solar reflectors that can be used in solar energy generating systems.
• Nanostructured Films for Photovoltaics—Global Solar, General Plasma, Inc., Prism Solar Technologies, Inc., ASU, and UA are teaming up to enhance the capabilities of thin-film solar panels; this project is expected to reduce the cost of electricity generated from those solar panels. Other partners include Advalue, All Optronics, the Aerospace Corporation, and NanoVoltaix, Inc.
• Photovoltaic Environmental Performance and Reliability—ASU and UA are working with Tucson Electric Power Company and TüvRheinland to expand the ASU Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory so it can more rapidly certify and test solar products, and help identify and create better performing solar products. Other partners include Sandia National Laboratories, ReliaSoft Corporation, Salt River Project, Arizona Public Service, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Spire Solar, and Solar AG.
• Compressed Air Energy Storage—Southwest Solar Technologies, Inc., the U.S. Geological Survey, UA, and ASU are developing compressed air solar storage technology for use when the sun is not shining. Other partners include Simmons, NanoVoltaix, and Eusthatia.
• AZ Smart (smart grid)—Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, ASU, and UA are partnering to create a system of smart grid management and to develop decision-making software to help select future power generation station locations, storage sites, and power lines throughout Arizona. Other partners include ViaSol Energy Solutions, BrightSource Energy, Inc., Creatasoft, and Tucson Electric Power Company.

"With STI's combined expertise, we can leverage our financial and brainpower capital toward the best solar initiatives and breakthroughs in new solar products and technologies," said William C. Harris, president and CEO, Science Foundation Arizona. "These returns on investment can significantly impact Arizona's emerging prominence in solar and position the state to benefit from upcoming federal competitions."

Science Foundation Arizona is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to invest funds in research and initiatives that create a competitive advantage for the state in the global economy. The foundation focuses on science, engineering, and biomedicine. It was created in June 2006, when the Arizona governor and the state legislature appropriated $35 million to the effort. The following June, the legislature approved a four-year commitment for an additional $100 million to be matched by the private sector, making the total investment $235 million through 2012.

For more information, see the Science Foundation Arizona April 20 press release (PDF 267 KB). Download Adobe Reader.