Stamford, Conn.-based GE Energy Financial Services said today it would fund five solar projects in California from San Jose, Calif.'s SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR).

Financial terms were not disclosed, but GE Energy Financial, a unit of General Electric (NYSE: GE), said it would acquire a majority interest in the projects, which will total eight megawatts.

Kevin Walsh, managing director and leader of renewable energy at GE Energy Financial, said "this transaction diversifies our renewable energy portfolio with more solar assets and supports ecomagination, GE's program to help its customers meet their environmental challenges while expanding its own portfolio of cleaner energy products."

The companies said the five projects combined would avoid 8.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in the first year of operation.

SunPower, a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE: CY), will design, build, operate and maintain the installations, and expects to start construction in February.

The projects include a 2.3 MW system for Toyota Motor Sales' Parts Center in Ontario, Calif., which the companies said would be the largest single-roof solar power installation in the U.S.

Hewlett Packard will be getting a 1 MW system for an eight-building printing technology research and development facility in San Diego.

The funding also covers a 1 MW project for Agilent Technologies, to be installed on a canopy in the company's Santa Rosa parking lot.

Two county and regional agencies are also getting SunPower installations, with Lake County getting 2.4 MW , and the Rancho California Water District getting 1 MW.

The projects are scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.