A manufacturer of crystalline-silicon solar modules has announced a contract with Arizona Public Service (APS) to develop, design, and construct an 18-MW solar power plant featuring the Solon SE turnkey system of high-efficiency modules of solar pv system, and single-axis trackers. The array will be one of the largest photovoltaic systems in the country, creating more than 550 local jobs during construction. The 145-acre system is scheduled to start

construction in the first quarter of 2011 and finish later that year. APS will own and operate the facility.

Power inverter SE is also handling a project in Gila Bend, Arizona for APS, from site development and system design, to engineering, procurement, and construction. The project features the company’s Velocity MW Solar System, which will provide 18 preconfigured, one-MW modular solar fields to help utilities quickly scale to capacity. In total, the firm will provide the APS system with 108 Solon-engineered Single Axis trackers, using over 75,000 high-efficiency, industrial solar modules.
The Velocity MW Solar System consists of standard clusters which reduce the number of components with a proportional reduction in field installation labor. The preconfigured design accelerates plant permitting and site development. The plant will operate with the company’s SCADA, a web-based system for remotely monitoring, controlling and reporting on a plant’s performance.