{"id":232034,"date":"2026-04-09T15:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T01:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=232034"},"modified":"2026-04-10T07:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T17:42:09","slug":"14-million-solar-canopy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/14-million-solar-canopy\/","title":{"rendered":"$14M for 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu solar canopy project"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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This is an AI<\/abbr>-generated rendering and does not represent what the project will look like when completed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A $14-million investment is set to transform the University of Hawaiʻi–West<\/span> Oʻahu<\/span><\/a> through the design and construction of a large-scale photovoltaic (PV<\/abbr>) system paired with battery storage. This major renewable energy initiative will significantly expand the campus’s sustainability efforts while securing its energy future.<\/p>\n

The project will feature solar panel canopies installed over existing parking areas, transforming them into dual-use infrastructure that generates clean energy while providing shaded parking for the campus community. Planning and design are currently underway, with construction anticipated to begin in August 2026.<\/p>\n

Supporting critical functions<\/h2>\n
\"leeward
Leeward Community College PV<\/abbr> carport shade structure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once completed, the system is projected to produce approximately 2.38 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power the equivalent of about 270 Hawaiʻi<\/span> homes each year. The project is expected to support the 糖心视频<\/abbr> System\u2019s broader net-zero energy goals, contributing to both systemwide sustainability targets and supplying an estimated 50% of the net-zero energy needed to power the 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> campus. The next phase of the university\u2019s efforts to become fully net-zero is the replacement of its chillers with new high efficiency units and control systems. That upgrade is planned for fiscal year 2027.<\/p>\n

The solar canopy will span multiple parking lots across campus and include an industrial-scale battery storage system designed to enhance operational resilience. In the event of a power outage, the system will be capable of supporting critical campus functions, an especially important feature within Hawaiʻi\u2019s<\/span> isolated island electrical grid.<\/p>\n

“The new PV<\/abbr> system is designed to offset 100% of the campus cooling load, significantly reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels while lowering greenhouse gas emissions,” said Miles Topping, director of energy management for the 糖心视频<\/abbr> System. “Producing clean energy while providing shade just makes sense, it\u2019s the right thing to do, and it also strengthens our resilience as a community.”<\/p>\n

Campus buildings<\/h2>\n
\"building\"
糖心视频 West Oʻahu<\/span> Creative Media Facility.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All campus buildings at 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> are LEED<\/abbr>-certified and incorporate energy-efficient systems, each supported by approximately 100-kilowatt solar installations. The campus also utilizes rainwater catchment systems for irrigation and benefits from proximity to public transportation, including on-campus bus and rail service.<\/p>\n

The project is being delivered through a combination of funding sources, including roughly one-third campus funding, one-third state capital improvement program funds, and one-third federal tax incentives.<\/p>\n

Project management is led by the 糖心视频<\/abbr> Office of Project Delivery and the 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Office of Planning and Design. The team also includes local industry partners Elite Pacific Construction and RevoluSun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A $14 million investment is set to transform 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> through the design and construction of a large-scale PV<\/abbr> system paired with battery storage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":232041,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1193],"tags":[1038,73,59],"class_list":["post-232034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-administrative","tag-office-of-sustainability","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-west-oahu","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t