E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) Solar has completed two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, totalling 20MW of capacity in Tucson, Arizona, US.
The larger of the two facilities is the 13MW Valencia Solar project, which came online in late June 2013.
The other facility is the 7MW Tech Park Solar (TPS), which was developed in collaboration with the Campus Research Corporation (CRC) at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park Solar Zone and Tucson Electric Power (TEP).
Both the facilities were developed on 150 acres of land, while construction work began in the second half of 2012.
The solar projects have long-term power purchase agreements with TEP and are expected to provide the local area with more than $5m in property taxes.
Arizona congressman Ron Barber said solar-generating capacity in the US continues to grow each year.
"I am proud that Arizona is a solar leader with nearly 10,000 people employed in my state’s rapidly-growing solar industry".
TEP renewable energy director Carmine Tilghman said E.ON is bringing new single-axis and dual-axis tracking technologies to Tucson.
EC&R Solar president Christophe Jurczak stated, "These are our maiden solar facilities in the U.S. and signal E.ON’s commitment to solar development in the U.S. market."
EC&R, which has already invested around €8bn in renewable energy projects, said it will continue to increase the share of sector in E.ON’s power generation portfolio.
Image: The solar PV projects have long-term power purchase agreements with Tucson Electric Power. Photo: courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
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