The rooftop installation will reduce the school’s energy costs, which have exceeded US$350,000 thousand annually in recent years, by approximately 33%.
“Hawaii’s energy costs are the highest in the nation, and now, with their new solar installation, Sacred Hearts Academy can significantly reduce its operating costs by reducing its utility bills,” said
Hawaiian Energy Systems VP of sales & marketing Chris Brashear. “And, through a 10-year operational lease, there was no upfront cost to the academy for the installation.”
The system was designed and installed by Hawaiian Energy Systems Inc and includes 200
Centrosolar America 240 watt C-series modules and 823 of its 250 watt E-series modules.
“The Centrosolar panels are an ideal fit for installations in Hawaii because of their suitability for use in coastal applications,” said Brashear. “They are designed to withstand the kinds of adverse weather and environmental conditions found on the Islands – like high winds and the corrosive effects of salt spray,”
The project includes multiple solar arrays with three different orientations to ensure optimal power production over the course of the school day. The project also features Enphase M215 micro-inverters on the rooftop location to generate AC power at a safe distance from the students, with no high voltage components near the playgrounds or classrooms.