The University of Hawai’i–West O’ahu intends to spend $14 million on a solar and storage project sited on campus. The project will feature solar carports over existing parking areas. Planning is underway, and construction is anticipated to begin in August 2026.
UH West Oʻahu campus with parking lots on far left
The university expects the project to produce approximately 2.38 million kWh annually, which would likely equate to a 1.3-MW system.
The project is expected to support the UH System’s 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 UH West O’ahu campus. The next phase of the university’s 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.
“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,” said Miles Topping, director of energy management for the UH System, in a news release. “Producing clean energy while providing shade just makes sense, it’s the right thing to do, and it also strengthens our resilience as a community.”
All campus buildings at UH West O’ahu are LEED-certified and incorporate energy-efficient systems, each supported by approximately 100-kW 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.
The new solar 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. Project management is led by the UH Office of Project Delivery and the UH West O’ahu Office of Planning and Design. The team also includes local industry partners Elite Pacific Construction and RevoluSun.
News item from UH
