Hawaii Tokai International College (HTIC) I Kapolei, Hawaii has completed a 284kW solar energy project under Kyocera Solar’s support. The project is expected to offset approximately 50% of the college’s power consumption.
HTIC opened its new campus within the campus village of University of Hawaii-West Oahu in April 2015, based on a globalization initiative between University of Hawaii and Tokai University. In order to take part in the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, which targets an increase in the state’s renewable energy portfolio to 70% by 2030 and 100% by 2045, HTIC designed its campus buildings to be eco-friendly and energy, water and resource efficient.
Kyocera Solar also took part in HTIC’s campus construction. The company supplied PV panels for Sunetric to install atop of rooftops of certain campus buildings, helping generate 400MWh of clean energy per year. The PV system adopts SMA Tripower inverters to ensure the high power generating efficiency.
Kyocera Solar’s rooftop PV system transforms sunshine into cost-savings at a predetermined fixed cost-per-kWh for the entire 20-year term of the PPA. This project demonstrates Kyocera’s PPA program as a reliable solution for facilities such as universities, school districts and towns to enjoy benefits of solar energy with zero up-front costs.
“We’re surrounded by natural beauty in Hawaii and feel a strong responsibility to be good stewards of these beautiful islands, but we also pay some of the nation’s highest electricity rates,” said Takuya Yoshimura, Chancellor of Hawaii Tokai International College. “Working with Kyocera, we are able to reduce the campus’s energy costs long-term with zero up-front costs and help the environment. This project will also benefit our students by stabilizing our energy costs for decades to come and providing educational opportunities.”
Other energy-saving measures include using LED lighting, efficient VRF air conditioning systems, and a building energy management system. All the measures are estimated to reduce the campus’ power consumption by 35%. With the PV system going operational, HTIC’s campus is expected to be the first LEED-certified multiple-building campus in Hawaii.