Kingston Solar Array Powers Past First Year, Unitil Says

HAMPTON, NH — A year after Unitil’s 4.9-megawatt solar array went online in Kingston, the project has generated enough electricity to power more than 1,000 homes, according to the company.

The array was officially fully commissioned on May 21, 2025, and has performed as expected during its first year of service.

The Kingston array became the first in New Hampshire to be owned and operated by a regulated distribution utility company, according to Unitil. Built on 36 acres off Towle Road, the project includes 11,232 panels and is among the largest solar arrays in the state.

Since it began operating, the array has produced more than 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity for Unitil. Unitil said the project is expected to produce an average of 8.6 million kilowatt hours annually over its projected 40-year lifespan and is estimated to save customers about $2 million.

“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,” Unitil External Affairs Manager Amanda Vicinanzo said. “This project is critical to Unitil’s ongoing efforts to increase its clean energy portfolio and make electricity affordable for customers.”

Unitil said the array helps support the regional power grid by offsetting peak demand and is designed to help meet grid needs over the next 40 years. Energy production is optimized through single-axis-tracking solar panels that rotate throughout the day, adjusting their position to follow the sun from east to west.

The company said the project was recognized in 2025 during NH Energy Week, when it received an Energy Champion Award for “Project of the Year” as a utility-scale renewable energy project.

Unitil, a public utility holding company with operations in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, said its operating utilities serve about 110,100 electric customers, 105,000 natural gas customers, and 10,700 water customers.