First Solar Plans 50-Megawatt, Solar-Powered Battery in Arizona

First Solar Inc. is planning a 50-megawatt battery storage system in Arizona that’s fueled by an even larger solar array.

First Solar will build and operate a 65-megawatt solar farm to feed the battery system and supply power to Pinnacle West Capital Corp.’s Arizona Public Service Co. utility under a 15-year contract, the solar module maker based in Tempe, Ariz., said in a statement Feb. 12.

Charging the batteries when the sun is at its peak will allow the utility to continue supplying power to customers even when the sunshine starts to fade later in the day. The project will ...