Mesquite Solar 1

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The Mesquite Solar project is a photovoltaic power plant being built in Arlington, Maricopa County, Arizona, owned by Sempra Generation. Phase 1 has a nameplate capacity of 150 megawatts (MW). The project has a planned capacity of up to 700 MW when completed, making it the world's largest PV power station.

Mesquite Solar 1 uses 800,000 solar panels from Suntech Power. The EPC contractor is Zachry Holdings. Construction began in 2011 and was completed in 2013. Mesquite 1 is projected to generate more than 350 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually (an average of about 40 MW), and will offset roughly 200,000 tons of carbon emissions each year.

Phase 1 cost about $600 million. Sempra Generation has signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for the 150 MW from Mesquite 1.

In late December, 2011, 42 MW was completed and connected to the grid. Sempra Energy completed the 150 MW phase of the Project in January 2013.