The University of Hawaii, Western Europe, plans to invest $14 million to build solar and storage projects on campus. The project will install a solar powered garage on the existing parking lot. Planning is underway and construction is expected to begin in August 2026.

The university expects the project to generate approximately 2.38 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which could be equivalent to a 1.3 megawatt system.

This project is expected to support the broader net zero energy goals of the University of Hawaii system, contribute to the sustainable development goals of the entire system, and provide approximately 50% of the net zero energy needed to power the University of Hawaii's Western Pacific campus. The next stage of the university's efforts to achieve complete net zero emissions is to replace its coolers with new efficient devices and control systems. The upgrade plan is scheduled for the fiscal year 2027.

The new photovoltaic system aims to offset 100% of the park's cooling load, significantly reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, "Miles Topping, Director of Systems Energy Management at the University of Hawaii, said in a press release. Producing clean energy while providing shade is meaningful, it is the right approach, and it also enhances our resilience as a community.

All campus buildings of the University of Hawaii at Western Oahu are LEED certified and equipped with energy-saving systems, with each building equipped with approximately 100 kilowatts of solar installations. The campus also utilizes rainwater harvesting systems for irrigation and benefits from proximity to public transportation, including on campus buses and railway services.

The new solar energy project is implemented through multiple funding sources, including approximately one-third of campus funding, one-third of state capital improvement program funding, and one-third of federal tax incentives. The project management is led by the Project Delivery Office of the University of Hawaii and the Planning and Design Office of the University of Hawaii in Western Europe. The team also includes local industry partners Elite Pacific Construction and RevoluSun.