University of Hawai’i–West O’ahu Plans $14 Million Solar and Storage Project
The University of Hawai’i–West O’ahu plans to invest $14 million in a solar and storage facility that will be built on campus. The project will add solar carports to existing parking lots. Plans are being made, and work is expected to start in August 2026.
The university thinks the project will make around 2.38 million kWh a year, which is about the same as a 1.3-MW system.
Advancing Net-Zero Energy Goals
The project is projected to help the UH System reach its larger net-zero energy objectives. It will help the whole system reach its sustainability goals and provide about half of the net-zero energy required to power the UH West O’ahu campus. The university’s next step toward being entirely net-zero is to replace its chillers with new, more efficient ones and control systems. The improvement is set to happen in the fiscal year 2027.
Miles Topping, director of energy management for the UH System, stated in a press release,
“The new PV system is designed to offset 100% of the campus cooling load, significantly reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Making clean energy and providing shade at the same time is the right thing to do, and it also makes us stronger as a community.”
Campus Sustainability Features and Project Funding
LEED-certified buildings on the UH West O’ahu campus all have energy-efficient systems, and each one is powered by around 100 kW of solar panels. The campus also uses rainwater collecting systems for watering plants and is close to public transit, such as buses and trains that stop on campus.
The new solar project is being paid for by a mix of financing sources, including around one-third from the university, one-third from the state capital improvement program, and one-third from federal tax breaks. The UH Office of Project Delivery and the UH West O’ahu Office of Planning and Design are in charge of managing the project. Elite Pacific Construction and RevoluSun, two local businesses, are also on the team.
