MGE To Expand Local Solar And Battery Storage With New Sunnyside Solar Energy Center

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) has received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to move forward with the development of a new renewable energy project in Fitchburg. The project, named the Sunnyside Solar Energy Center, will feature a 20-megawatt (MW) solar array along with a 40-MW battery storage system. Located off Whalen Road in Fitchburg, the solar array is expected to produce enough electricity each year to power approximately 6,000 homes.

The battery storage system, which will have a four-hour capacity, is designed to store energy and supply it to the grid during periods of high demand or when solar energy production is low. This setup will help ensure a more stable and reliable supply of clean energy to local customers. EDF Renewables is the developer of the project. According to the current timeline, the solar array should begin providing electricity to customers in 2026, with the battery system becoming operational in 2027.

The Sunnyside Solar Energy Center will be part of a growing group of solar energy projects in the Fitchburg area that are helping to serve MGE’s customer base with locally generated, carbon-free electricity. Among the nearby projects is the Strix Solar facility, a 6-MW installation that began operations in early 2025. This project supplies electricity to all MGE electric customers, and MGE has applied to use 2 MW from Strix Solar for a proposed community program called Shared Solar – Strix.

This initiative builds on MGE’s original Shared Solar program, which is already fully subscribed. Another local project, Tyto Solar, also has a capacity of 6 MW and started generating electricity in early 2024. It functions as a distributed energy resource connected directly to MGE’s distribution system and serves all electric customers in the area. Additionally, the O’Brien Solar Fields, a larger 22-MW solar facility that came online in 2021, provides clean energy to seven different local businesses, government agencies, and public institutions through dedicated Renewable Energy Rider agreements.

Jeff Keebler, MGE Chairman, President and CEO, stated, “MGE shares with our customers the goal of a more sustainable energy future. The Sunnyside Solar Energy Center builds on the progress we’ve already made reducing carbon emissions, increasing our use of cost-effective, locally generated renewable energy and advancing new technologies to benefit all our customers. By also working with customers to advance energy efficiency and electrification, we can achieve our sustainable energy goals.”

These solar initiatives support MGE’s long-term goals to significantly cut carbon emissions and shift toward cleaner energy sources. The company is aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 80% from 2005 levels by the year 2030 and reach net-zero carbon electricity by 2050. MGE reports that it is already halfway toward achieving its 2030 goal. Strategies to reach these targets include investing in cost-effective renewable energy projects, promoting energy efficiency among customers, and encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles to support the broader electrification of transportation. MGE continues to expand its solar portfolio as part of its commitment to a more sustainable energy future.