About STI

Industry analysts project the solar energy industry to enjoy extraordinary growth, especially in the U.S.  This growth will accelerate as solar technologies improve and the cost to generate solar electricity reaches traditional generation costs, also known as “grid parity.”

With our abundant sunshine, growing population, favorable policy framework, strong university-based research programs and increasing supply base, Arizona is poised to become a critical player in the national solar roadmap and a leader in adopting solar energy for residential, commercial and industrial use, and for export.

Realizing this potential requires an aggressive plan with a significant investment of resources.  
Science Foundation Arizona’s Solar Technology Initiative seeks to catalyze the development & deployment of solar energy in Arizona and foster creation of a vibrant solar energy ecosystem.   Our activities are centered around two key themes:

University / industry partnerships

Through our grant programs, STI provides a highly collaborative environment designed to foster technology development and facilitate technology transfer from universities to the energy marketplace.

Stakeholder engagement

STI fosters an active dialogue amongst Arizona’s solar energy stakeholders, including industry participants, academic institutions, economic & energy policy organizations, and state & regional governments.  STI will also work collaboratively with organizations throughout the Southwest in order to capitalize on Arizona’s potential as an exporter of solar energy.

The Payoff:

Ultimately, STI seeks to facilitate world recognition of Arizona’s leadership in solar energy related research, technology development and commercialization.  In the process we hope to help Arizona realize the enhanced economic impact that results from this leadership.