The sun's heat and light provide an abundant source of energy that can be harnessed in a variety of ways. Did you know that enough energy arrives from the sun every 24 hours to supply all of mankind's energy needs for 12 years?

Today's most advanced solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can convert up to one third of the power of the sunlight they receive into electrical energy for your home. Typical home Solar PV systems can convert 12 percent of the energy they receive into electricity. PV systems are made of semiconductors that convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Looking for more information on how Solar PV systems work? Watch this short film and visit the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Web sites.

Looking for more information about installing solar? Estimate the costs and savings for your own solar system by completing a free solar estimator. Learn about incentives and rebates to help you pay for your project. Find out what it takes to safely interconnect with WMECO's power system by visiting our Distributed Generation Interconnections pages.

WMECO's Solar Initiatives

WMECO understands the importance of renewable power sources like solar for our customers, our environment and our future. That's why we are dedicated to supporting research, development and promotion of solar technologies. For example, WMECO pioneered the first-ever Solar Avenue program in western Massachusetts, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources like coal and nuclear by 43,000 kilowatt-hours (KW) a year, and saving customers about $1,700 in annual electricity costs. WMECO was also part of a collaborative effort at our headquarters in Springfield, MA that installed a 30 kW solar electric system on the Technology Park rooftop to produce clean energy and over its 30-year lifetime will avoid 756 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, we are making history as the first utility in New England to receive approval from the Department of Public Utilities (DPUC) to move forward with our Large Scale Solar Program.