Since its inception, the solar energy system at CESA 10 has consistently performed, meeting expectations for renewable energy production while significantly reducing our carbon footprint.

The CESA 10 backyard solar array was interconnected to the grid and officially brought online in November 2024. The system was designed with a peak capacity of 104 kW, which it successfully reaches during periods of direct sunlight, resulting in plateaus of maximum energy production.

Over the first year and beyond, the system has proven resilient against the Wisconsin climate. The panels are adjusted in tilt by season to capture the best sunlight. During the summer months, production begins as early as 6:00 am and lasts until nearly 9:00 pm. Interestingly, production in the summer of 2025 was slightly impacted by wildfire smoke from Canada, which obscured the sun and prevented the system from reaching its full plateau potential on several days.

The environmental impact from this transition is staggering; the energy produced since inception is equivalent to saving over 17,400 gallons of gasoline or preventing the burning of 172,500 pounds of coal.

As of March 2026, the array has generated a total of 181 MWh of clean energy. This performance has resulted in a total savings of approximately $23,578!