BrightNight has started construction works at the BrightNight Pioneer Clean Energy Centre in Arizona, US. This was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony.

The new facility is located in Yuma County. It aims to supply clean and affordable electricity to Arizona Public Service customers. Also, it will and improve grid resilience in the state’s most constrained load area.

Capacity

The solar power plant will have a capacity of 300MW. It will be combined with 300MW and 1.2 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery energy storage. Furthermore, it is expected to produce over 900,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. This will be sufficient to cater for the increasing power demand in Arizona.

Also, BrightNight CEO Martin Hermann said: “Pioneer reflects BrightNight’s commitment to delivering infrastructure at the scale and performance required to support reliability. Also, BrightNight seeks to ensure economic growth and long-term system resilience.

“This project demonstrates how advanced clean energy and storage can work together to meet real-world utility needs while delivering meaningful benefits to local communities.”

Additionally, in conjunction with the facility, BrightNight plans to build a nine-mile, 230kV transmission line to integrate the power generated from the facility into existing grid infrastructure.

Significance of the Project

The Pioneer Clean Energy Centre is expected to supply enough electricity each year to meet the needs of nearly 77,299 households and businesses.

The environmental benefits include a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 641,893t.

Furthermore, the project will conserve around 260 million gallons of water every year. This will reduce use by more than 99% compared to conventional power generation methods.

Lastly, this project increases Arizona’s renewable energy capacity by joining others that are still under development such as Catclaw Solar and Storage Facility in Buckeye.

Job Creation

Its construction is expected to create 250–300 jobs. More employment opportunities are projected through ongoing operations starting in April 2027.

Financially, the project is expected to generate $83.3 million in local and state property tax revenue throughout its lifespan.

Also, in December 2025, BrightNight, in partnership with Cordelio Power, reached financial close on the Greenwater energy storage project in Pierce County, Washington, US.

BrightNight Pioneer Clean Energy CentreProject Factsheet

Developers: BrightNight & Cordelio Power

Location: Yuma County, Arizona

Solar capacity: 300 MWac

Storage capacity: 300 MW / 1,200 MWh (4-hour duration)

Transmission:Also, the project includes the construction of a 9-mile, 230-kilovolt (kV) generation-tie line to connect the facility to the existing Arizona power grid.

Project Timeline

• October 2025: On-site construction activities initiated.
• November 2025: Financial close reached with a syndicate of lenders (including MUFG, RBC, and ING).
• February 11, 2026: Official groundbreaking ceremony held in Yuma County.
• April 2027: Scheduled commencement of commercial operations.