Enlight Advances US$3 Billion, 1.2GW Solar 4GWh BESS ‘Complex’ in Arizona

Why It Matters

The complex demonstrates the scale of U.S. solar‑plus‑storage integration and highlights how policy shifts around foreign‑sourced battery components create both short‑term opportunities and long‑term supply‑chain pressures for the renewable sector.

Key Takeaways

• $3 bn project cost, $1.6 bn net after tax credits
• 1 GWac interconnection, 20‑year contracts with SRP
• Safe‑harbour status shields Chinese supply chain until 2029
• Phase‑1 commercial ops expected late 2027
• Arizona pipeline adds Snowflake A, Roadrunner projects

Pulse Analysis

Enlight Renewable Energy’s CO Bar Complex marks one of the United States’ largest solar‑plus‑storage installations, combining 1.21 GW of photovoltaic capacity with 4 GWh of battery storage across five distinct stages. The development, located in Arizona’s sun‑rich desert, represents an investment of roughly $3 billion, of which about $1.6 billion is net after federal tax incentives. With a 1 GWac interconnection agreement and long‑term bus‑bar contracts secured with Salt River Project, the project is positioned to deliver up to $278 million in annual electricity sales once fully operational.

The timing of CO Bar’s progress coincides with a shifting regulatory landscape. The 2023 “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” extends battery tax credits through 2033 but introduces Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) thresholds that will rise to 75 % by 2029, limiting reliance on Chinese‑sourced components. Enlight’s safe‑harbour status, granted for projects already under construction, allows it to continue using existing Chinese supply contracts until the next compliance window. This short‑term exemption creates a window of opportunity for developers who have already locked in supply chains, while signaling a longer‑term push toward domestic battery manufacturing.

Financing for the complex underscores the growing appetite for large‑scale renewable infrastructure. A $1.44 billion debt facility for the adjacent Snowflake A project and a $340 million tax‑equity partnership for the Roadrunner solar‑storage venture illustrate how investors are bundling capital across multiple Arizona assets. As construction ramps up on stages three through five, the complex is slated for phased commercial operation between late 2027 and mid‑2028, reinforcing Arizona’s emergence as a renewable energy hub. The combined output will bolster grid reliability, support utility decarbonization goals, and set a benchmark for future U.S. solar‑plus‑storage projects.

Enlight advances US$3 billion, 1.2GW solar 4GWh BESS ‘Complex’ in Arizona

By April Bonner · February 4, 2026

IPP Enlight Renewable Energy has reached development milestones for its total 1.21 GW solar plus 4 GWh energy‑storage CO Bar Complex in Arizona, US, and is now advancing the project toward operation.

The CO Bar Complex includes five stages, and Enlight claims it will be among the largest renewable‑energy projects in the US.

• CO Bar 1 features 258 MW of solar PV generation and an 824 MWh battery energy‑storage system (BESS).

• CO Bar 2 and CO Bar 3 contribute an additional 480 MW and 473 MW of solar PV, respectively.

• CO Bar 4 and CO Bar 5 are solely energy‑storage projects, offering 1,600 MWh and 1,576 MWh of storage, respectively.

According to Enlight, the expected total investment for the Complex is roughly US$2.86 billion to US$3.01 billion, with a net investment of about US$1.55 billion to US$1.63 billion after tax benefits. In its first full year of operation, the Complex is projected to generate approximately US$264 million to US$278 million through electricity sales.

The CO Bar Complex has signed a 1 GWac large‑generator interconnection agreement. Additionally, the company recently entered into two 20‑year bus‑bar energy‑service agreements with utility Salt River Project (SRP) for the energy‑storage stages, CO Bar 4 and 5. These agreements provide Enlight with off‑take commitments for the entire CO Bar Complex.

Notably, Enlight says that in 2025 all five stages of the project were “safe‑harboured.” Enlight did not reveal where the materials were safe‑harboured from; however, Chinese energy‑storage companies in the US face major hurdles due to federal policies reducing reliance on foreign entities of concern (FEOC) in the supply chain.

The “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) kept tax credits for batteries through 2033 but added restrictions disqualifying projects receiving significant aid from restricted foreign entities. These rules target materials, products, and agreements, challenging an industry where about 75 % of US lithium‑ion batteries are imported from China.

FEOC thresholds start at 55 % for 2026 projects and rise to 75 % after 2029. Projects underway can continue under safe‑harbour status, covering many Chinese supply deals. This offers a short‑term opportunity for projects with existing Chinese agreements, but long‑term impacts could be significant.

Recently, the H.I.G. Capital‑backed energy platform Greenflash Infrastructure announced it had safe‑harboured more than 10 GWh of lithium‑ion energy‑storage capacity.

Construction at CO Bar 1‑2 has moved into the next phase, with crews working on civil tasks at those sites. Construction at CO Bar 3‑5 is anticipated to be fully mobilised within the next 12 months. The initial commercial operations are planned to begin in phases from late 2027 to mid‑2028.

In November 2025, Enlight secured a US$1.44 billion debt financing for its Snowflake A solar‑plus‑storage project, also located in Arizona. The Snowflake A project combines 600 MW of solar PV with 1,900 MWh of energy‑storage capacity and is expected to achieve commercial operation by the second half of 2027.

In the previous month, the company finalised two tax‑equity partnerships totalling nearly US$340 million for its 290 MWdc/940 MWh solar‑plus‑storage Roadrunner project. Roadrunner is also located in Arizona and has a 20‑year bus‑bar power‑purchase agreement with utility Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO).