Largest federal system in Hawaii dedicated

Berkeley, California-based PowerLight Corp. and the US Navy on Oct. 13 dedicated a 309 kW PowerGuard system installed on the roof of a historic aircraft hanger at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which is to become a museum. 

© PowerLight Corp. Pearl Harbor PV: PowerLight's 309 kW system on a Navy hanger is monitored by Hawaii University students.

The array, which features slightly sloped north- and south-facing angles, includes 1,545 panels from Sharp Solar. 

The system, touted as the »largest federal PV system in Hawaii,« was originally proposed as a 200 KW system for potential later build-out up to 3 MW at a different site (see PI 1/2003, p. 18), but after it was decided to install the system on the hanger plans for expansion were abandoned (see PI 6/2004, p. 58).

The project was funded through a $2.5 million federal appropriation secured by Hawaii's congressional delegates. The installation will connect to the Navy's grid on Ford Island and is said to save the Navy $40,000 electricity costs per year, based on current rates of Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO).

Garrett Hering
© PHOTON International, December 2005