Solar Zone
Innovation
Under the Sun
The Solar Zone at UA Tech Park is one of the largest multi-technology solar demonstration sites at the grid level in the U.S., providing an ideal environment for testing and advancing solar innovations under Tucson’s abundant sunshine.
Power Generation
Eighty-five percent of the year, the sun shines in Tucson, making the Solar Zone at UA Tech Park the perfect place for testing, evaluation, and demonstration of solar technologies and systems. The site is designed to generate 25 megawatts of power each day – nearly twice the daily electrical consumption of the Tech Park and enough to power the homes of more than 4,600 TEP residential consumers for a year.
Seamless Access
Plug directly into the University of Arizona research expertise, talented graduates, and student interns.
Raw Material
Our Southern Arizona location offers exceptionally high solar irradiance.
Strategy Assistance
Support in developing strategies including business plans, market analysis, marketing, and operations.
Dedicated Workspace
Access to semi-private offices, equipped with desks, chairs, and other office essentials, providing executives with a conducive environment for focused work.
Abundant Space
Our expansive site enables side-by-side testing of multiple technologies under identical conditions.
Connect with Experts
The University of Arizona is internationally recognized as an expert in the solar and renewable energy industries.
Acres of Land
Power generated is directly fed into the grid.
Helping to expand the renewable energy resources in Southern Arizona.
Pioneers of Clean Power
Operating at the UA Tech Park
At the UA Tech Park’s Solar Zone, renewable energy companies are not only generating clean power—they’re shaping the future. This dynamic platform enables industry leaders to collaborate, test emerging technologies, and scale real-world solutions. Surrounded by world-class research, abundant sunshine, and a thriving innovation ecosystem, these companies are demonstrating what’s possible when cutting-edge technology meets a deep commitment to sustainability.
Arzon Solar
- Produces 2MW, powering 250 homes
- 36 solar structures on 16.1 acres
- Tech: Dual Axis Tracking Concentrated Photovoltaic Structures (CPV)
Deriva Energy | Gato Montes
- 6 MW powering 822 homes
- 44,000 thin film panels on 37.41 acres
- Fixed Position Photovoltaic Panels (Thin Film)
Iron Horse Energy Storage & Solar
- RWE Climate & Renewables
- 10 MW / 2.5 MWh lithium titanate oxide storage facility
- 2.4 MW solar array for Tucson Electric Power (TEP)
UA Tech Park Solar
- RWE Climate & Renewables
- 6MW powering 1,181 homes
- 24,000 solar panels on 37.3 acres
- 2.4 MW solar array for Tucson Electric Power (TEP)
- Single Axis Tracking Photovoltaic Panels (c-Si and JA)
Tucson Electric Power | Solon
- 5 MW powering 609 homes
- 21,294 Solon Solar Panels on 33.31 acres
- Fixed Position Photovoltaic Panels (c-Si)
Tucson Electric Power | Solon (Bright Tucson Community Solar)
- 1.6 MW powering 258 homes
- 5,808 Solar Panels on 13.9 acres
- Single Axis, Tracking Photovoltaic Panels (c-Si)
- 500 kW of Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
Other renewable energy companies
operating in the UA TECH at the solar zone
Dimensional Energy
Researching Carbon Dioxide Recycling, creating a cost-effective building block for industrial fuels and consumer products traditionally made from fossil carbon.
GEOST
Creating cutting-edge ground and space-based sensor pay loads and mission support solutions
