Kingston Solar Array Marks Successful First Year of Operation

A year after Unitil's 4.9-megawatt solar array went online in Kingston, the project has proven successful, generating enough electricity to power more than 1,000 homes.

The array, which became the first to be owned and operated by a regulated distribution utility company in New Hampshire, was officially fully commissioned on May 21, 2025, and has performed as expected during its first year of service.

With 11,232 panels built on 36 acres of land off Towle Road, the array is among the largest in the state. Since it began operating, it's produced over 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity for Unitil - an electric and natural gas provider for customers in New England.

"We're pleased that the Kingston array performed as designed and within expectations. In fact, it outperformed expectations by about 100,000 kilowatt hours during the height of the winter season from December through February," said Unitil External Affairs Manager Amanda Vicinanzo. "This project is critical to Unitil's ongoing efforts to increase its clean energy portfolio and make electricity affordable for customers."

The array is expected to produce an average of 8.6 million kilowatt hours annually over its projected 40-year lifespan, which is estimated to save customers approximately $2 million.

By generating electricity to support the regional power grid, the array is helping to offset peak demand and is designed to help meet the needs of the grid over the next 40 years. Energy production is 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.

In 2025, the array was recognized as a significant utility-scale renewable energy project and earned an Energy Champion Award for "Project of the Year" for its innovative characteristics during NH Energy Week.

Photo Credit to ReVision Energy: An aerial view of Unitil's new 4.9-megawatt solar array in Kingston.