This document summarizes a working group's discussion on developing Arizona as a center for advanced solar energy research. It identifies existing pilot projects in solar PV and thermal collaboration. The group aims to establish a long-term R&D strategy to make solar a sustainable economic option. This would include strategic areas like cross-cutting technologies, infrastructure for testing and data, and translating research to commercial applications. The recommendations are to create solar energy research zones for investment and an innovation initiative providing broad research capabilities through public-private partnerships.

1. Applied Research Collaborations
and Pilot Projects
- March 26, 2012
Phoenix, Arizona

2. Working Group Members
• Bob Boscamp, Strategic Solar Energy
• Justin Elliott, RehNu
• Mayor Kenny Evans, Town of Payson
• Deborah Galbraith, Town of Payson
• Michael Neary – AriSEIA
• Brian Quinn, RehNu
• Anne Reichman, ASU, Sustainable Cities Network
• Jerry Witt – CVH Power
• Jennifer Woolwich, PV Recycling
• Co-Chairs AZ Solar Summit ARCPP Working Group
Ardeth Barnhart – University of Arizona
Sayfe Kiaei – Arizona State University

3. Background
• Integrate Solar Energy into Multiple Sectors:
residential, commercial, industrial and utility-
scale systems through:
– Explorations of innovative technologies
– Integration and testing of technology and systems
– Development of real-world applications
• Outcome:
– Arizona as a center for advanced R&D testing,
evaluation and manufacturing
• for integrated solar energy technology systems at all scales
• sustainable solar energy solutions for hot/arid regions

4. Source: Arizona Indicators. Morrison Institute for Public Policy

5. R&D Pilot Project Research Infrastructure
Project Focus Area Key Partners
University of Arizona Solar Zone Utility-scale DG solar energy systems - TEP, industry, academia, government
grid integration and evaluation
UA/TEP PV Test Yard Advanced testing & performance TEP, industry, academia, Federal
evaluation; flat plate PV, CPV, BIPV, laboratories
Biosphere 2 Model City Smart Grid and interconnection , energy Utility companies, industry, academia,
system optimization, solar/mining NGO’s
Red Rock Agricultural Center Energy Ranch – utility-scale DG solar Academia, industry
system evaluation
UA Inland Brackish Groundwater Solar Solar Desalination Prototypes and Academia, government, industry
Desalination Initiative Testing
APS - D-Backs, Chase Field Go Solar Solar shade structures and Electric Utility, industry and municipality
Vehicle integration
APS – Community Power Project – Distributed roof-top solar PV, smart grid Utility, government, community and
Flagstaff testing evaluation municipality
APS – Star Center Solar testing and evaluation Industry, academia
ASU – TUV Rheinland PV Testing Testing and certification of solar Academia , industry, International
Laboratory equipment business
Payson Millennium Campus Net-zero energy integrated Academia, industry, municipality and
demonstration campus government
DasHaus – Tempe Center for the Arts Traveling sustainable housing prototype Academia, government and International
– Net Zero House business

6. Key Findings
1) Existing baseline of R&D/pilot projects in solar PV and
Thermal with multi-sector collaborations
– Intellectual Capital – broad participation in academia,
industry and government
– Regional market opportunities = regional R&D
opportunities
2) Weak public perception of AZ as a viable platform for
R&D
– slow market development and market-friendly policies
3) R&D as an economic driver is linked to AZ solar
energy market
– Investment in R&D and manufacturing over the long-
term

7. Objectives
• Develop a long-term strategy for R&D that will
establish research, development and
manufacturing of solar energy technologies as a
sustainably viable option for the environmental
and economic future of Arizona.
• It is based upon an integrated approach to
provide specific environments for collaboration
between public and private organizations to
optimize investment, testing and assessment, and
training and communication.

8. Strategic Areas for R&D
• Cross-cutting, enabling technologies
» Electrical management and performance of PV
systems (BOS)
» System-level integration and optimization with
storage
» Resource modeling and prediction
» Life-cycle assessment, operations and
maintenance optimization
» Accelerated testing and reliability
standardization
» Green building and energy management
» Materials and other innovations for energy
efficiency
» Distributed generation systems – solar/battery,
solar/water treatment
• Research and Demonstration
Infrastructure
» Database of performance criteria and output
for solar energy
• Network of PV Testing Global Horizontal Irradiance Forecast Animation for July 5, 2011

9. Strategic Areas for R&D
Application and Technology Commercialization – translational research that
increase the commercial value of innovation
» Building technologies and standards that
incorporate solar energy and energy efficiency
» Integrated resource planning and business planning
for industries/communities/tribes to incorporate
solar energy into their development plans
» Community solar projects that incorporate solar
energy/smart metering/electric vehicles
» Center for industrial design, market analysis and
communications, legal and environmental services.
» Market analysis of local, regional, national and
global trends in solar energy to inform system-level
R&D projects
» Clearinghouse of information in R&D in solar energy
to inform industrial R&D
» Public awareness, education and workforce
development tied to demonstration sites

10. Recommendation #1
• Solar Energy Research, Development,
Demonstration and Deployment Zones
– State-wide R&D zones enabling investment by
multiple stakeholders for specific outcomes
Near-Term Medium-term Long-Term
•Energy Efficiency •State-wide •large-scale
•Distributed network of R&D deployment of
Generation initiatives solar energy in the
Systems •Sustained region
•Systems investment in • sustained
integration and R&D manufacturing
reliability • Smart-grid and and export
•local, national and storage capabilities
global markets technologies •Increased
•Solar and water commercialization
treatment of innovative
•Integration of technologies
solar energy at all
scales , all sectors

11. Recommendation #2
State-wide Innovation Initiative
– Solar Energy Research Infrastructure
• Provide broad research capabilities through private and public
partnerships
– Reduce development costs and time
– Mitigate technology risks – investors
• Applied R&D for solar energy
• Develop policy and infrastructure for deployment by industry
– Oversight and responsibilities for outcomes of the Roadmap
– Represents multiple stakeholders
– Identify best practices
– Promote collaborative R&D, shared costs and benefits
– Consensus on standards
– Specialized and shared facilities to carry-out advanced R&D collaboration
– Connects organizations with common research needs
– Develop cost/share strategies
– Navigates the complexity of the PV value chain and confidentiality/IP

12. Next Steps
• Enhance participation in the working group to
better define the R&D strategy and roadmap
for solar energy