Kingston Solar Array

Unitil broke ground in August 2024 on what will be the largest solar array of its kind in New Hampshire. Once complete in 2025, this project is estimated to generate approximately 9.7 million kilowatt hours of energy in its first year of service (enough to power about half the town) and save Unitil's NH customers over $2 million collectively during its projected 40-year lifespan.

Kingston, NH, town sign with trees and grass in background

1,243.6

Homes powered annually

9.7

Million kilowatt hours generated annually (estimated)

Acres of solar generation

$2,000,000

Collective savings for Unitil NH customers

Our vision is to transform the way our customers meet their evolving energy needs. This project really best represents how our work accomplishes that vision for our customers. In addition to that, I think the project also represents two things we’re very passionate about. We’re very passionate about not only expanding clean energy resources here in New England but also about bringing affordable energy to our customers.

Thomas P. Meissner, Jr.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Unitil

Main Project Details

The array is being constructed on a 36-acre parcel of land in the area of an electrical substation. A fenced area encompassing the solar panels, inverters, transformers, and other electrical equipment will cover approximately 27 acres. It will produce electricity that will be delivered directly into Unitil’s electric distribution system, reducing the amount of energy it receives from the transmission system.

The array, which is expected to be completed and brought online in 2025, is estimated to generate approximately 9.7 million kilowatt hours of energy in its first year of service and is expected to average 8.6 million kilowatt hours annually over its projected 40-year lifespan. Energy production will be optimized through the use of single-axis tracking solar panels that rotate on a single point throughout the course of a day, adjusting position to track the sun from east to west. While there are no current plans to install energy storage at the site, the facility is being designed to potentially accommodate storage in the future.

Our Net-Zero Emissions Commitment

What Sustainability Means to Unitil

Solar & Private Generation

Sustainability in Practice

Customer Savings

Universal solar projects benefit the region by affordably providing renewable energy. Unitil's NH customers will collectively see over $2 million in savings on energy costs over the 40-year lifetime of this array.

How is this figure calculated?

The collective customer savings is estimated with an equation taking the total project cost (both construction and expected annual maintenance) and comparing that figure to the long-term decrease in supply costs that would occur as a result of the energy generated by the facility.

The NH solar array has no impact on natural gas rates or Massachusetts electric rates, though the Solarway array in Fitchburg provides similar savings for Unitil's MA electric customers.

long view of solar panel with trees in background

Illuminating Notes:

Once constructed, this will be the first utility-owned solar array of its kind in New Hampshire.
The array will be 4.9-megawatt in size, which will make it among the largest in the state upon completion. What does 4.9 MW mean in terms of scale?
- 11,232 individual solar panels will be used
- The 9.7 million kWh we estimate the array will generate in its first year is the energy needed to support 1,243.6 homes for a year (based on a typical home that uses 650 kWh a month).

Fitchburg, MA Solarway

Built on 15 acres of land once occupied by a fossil fuel-burning power plant, Solarway is a 1.3-megawatt solar array Unitil built in 2018 that can independently power 144 homes each year.

Learn more

More NH Solar Arrays

Since NH law allows a utility to build up to 6% (roughly 18MW) of its peak load distribution, Unitil intends to continue to explore opportunities to develop and build cost-effective renewable energy for our customers where there are opportunities to do so.

We'd like to thank a number of folks for helping us make this project a reality:

ReVision Energy, who brings 20 years of experience in solar development to the table and will be managing construction. ReVision is a great NH business and has been a great partner throughout.
Audley Construction, which performed the site work needed here to bring us to this point in the process.
TF Moran, who aided in site design and permitting.
State agencies such as the NH Department of Energy, Environmental Services, and Fish & Game:
- NH DOE has been very supportive of the project throughout and recognized its value for customers.
- NH DES and Fish & Game helped us ensure that all correct steps were taken to ensure we do right by the environment and local ecosystems as part of this project.
The NH Consumer Advocate and the Public Utilities Commission, both of whom acknowledged the public benefits of the project.
Town officials, including the Board of Selectmen, Planning Department, Conservation Commission, and Energy Committee here in Kingston.