Suntech Hawaii completed its largest PV system to date: a 223kW high-efficiency PV installation at D. Otani Produce in Kalihi, Hawaii. The Honolulu Advertiser reports that the project consists of 1,275 panels, which took seven weeks to install and is expected to produce enough energy for around 40 homes for one year.
“We rely heavily on electricity because we have a one-acre refrigeration system that keeps our produce fresh,” said Dwight Otani, D. Otani Produce founder and owner. “Unfortunately, with the rising cost of oil, our electricity bill more than doubled since 2006 so we needed to do something quickly that would help us to reduce our electricity bill.”
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With the system becoming operational at the beginning of November, Otani Produce hopes to save around 20 percent off its monthly electricity bill – roughly $85,000.
“This is the largest PV system we’ve installed to date on Oahu, and we were able to do it in less than two months,” said Suntech Hawaii President Sean Mullen. “After meeting with Dwight, our engineers developed a tailored solution that met D. Otani’s energy needs, while our crews were able to retrofit the system seamlessly into the existing roof structure.”
