The Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy Joseph H. Simmons, Director Joey Pouliot, Corporate Affiliates program manager University of Arizona
UA and the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy AzRISE was formed at the University of Arizona in 2007 Initially funded by the Arizona Board of Regents ; Currently funded by several corporate affiliates. AzRISE Economics & Public Policy Technology R & D Education & Outreach AzRISE is composed of faculty, staff and students from the Colleges of: Engineering Science Optical Science Architecture Agriculture Business AzRISE supports about 23 projects with over 60 students.
Vision: a world powered by renewable, clean energy where solar energy provides its natural share through the development of economic and efficient conversion devices and reliable energy storage systems. Mission: to enable multi-disciplinary research, development and practical implementation of solar energy solutions to meet our energy needs by creating innovative collaborations in research, economic and public policy analysis and education/outreach. The Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy
List of Major Research Activities Measurements and testing – Solar irradiance, effects of clouds and temperature and long term exposure on PV module behavior and life time expectancy – Weather forecasting for PV output prediction New PV materials – Nanostructures for high efficiency and large area multijunction solar cells – Polymer and hybrid materials for low cost solar cells – Efficient and low cost c-Si processing Storage – Short term and low cost – Long term with high efficiency – Electrified transport Solar Desalination – Temperature-tolerant solar cells – Efficient heat recovery, multi-stage, evaporative desalination systems – Salt recovery and disposal
Photo by Jacob Chinn
The Tucson Electric Power (TEP) Solar Test yard
Daily output over 4 years Normalized Energy Yield kWh / Wp = 5.3 h/day = 1935 h/yr Daily Outputs over 4 years:
Measured Degradation Rates
AC power every minute shown for 2 days System Area: 21 m 2 Rating: kW p Annual Energy Yield: 1700 kWh / kW p Data on-line at: Day in 2010
Data – Model shows the intermittency
Normalized Power Output
Irradiance Forecasting Forecast of GHI (a), DNI (b), and observed cloud cover from MODIS (c) on 27 January, 2012 at 1 pm local time over Arizona. Forecasts were made 31 hours in advance. For updated WRF forecasts see:
Irradiance Forecast validation
Irradiance Forecasting
Irradiance Forecastig research using 100 rooftop PV stations