107 kW SunPower system completed within 45 days

 HONOLULU – www.suntechhawaii.com – Suntech Hawaii, a locally owned and operated solar integrator, recently completed a 107-kilowatt high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) solar electric power system at the Ohana Military Communities’ Halsey Terrace neighborhood Community Center on behalf of Forest City Military Communities - Hawaii. Suntech Hawaii completed this extensive system in record time after receiving notice to proceed April 15. The system was commissioned today at 10:30 AM at an on-site ceremony hosted by Mr. Jon Wallenstrom, Senior Vice President, Forest City Military Communities – Hawaii.

Using SunPower solar panels, which are the highest efficiency panels available on the market today, the project produces enough power to offset the consumption of about 10 fully air-conditioned homes in the Halsey Terrace neighborhood.

The 477-panel solar system at Halsey Terrace was not included in Forest City’s original project plans. The decision to include it was made at the last minute, requiring Suntech Hawaii to accelerate all phases of procurement and construction. Working 12-hour shifts, six days a week, Suntech Hawaii finished the entire job in just 45 days on May 31.

"We were very pleased that Suntech Hawaii was able to get the project turned around on the schedule we required," said Jim Ramirez, vice president of construction for Forest City Military Communities. "This is our first solar power system in Hawaii and Suntech's performance was exemplified not only in the product they delivered but their professionalism and expertise in explaining solar energy technology to the Forest City team".

”With today’s energy prices, the demand for solar is very high. It can take two to three months simply to get solar panels to the job site,” said Todd Georgopapadakos, Suntech’s vice president of business development. “In this case, we had the total commitment of SunPower Corporation, and we were able to get materials in just three weeks, which made it possible to meet Forest City’s aggressive timeline. In addition, our company has been preparing to do commercial jobs at this scale and intense pace for some time, so we jumped at the opportunity.”

Maintaining site aesthetics placed additional demands on Suntech Hawaii installation team. In order to preserve the project’s architectural continuity, Suntech Hawaii installed the panels in a staggered pattern over an existing tiled roof.

“The SunPower panels complement the design scheme of the buildings, maintaining the look and feel of the existing buildings,” said Forest City Development Manager Will Boudra. “Furthermore, our Hawaii communities need to be sustainable, so integrating high-efficiency green building technologies is a top priority in our developments.”

Across the state, the pace of commercial solar installations is exploding in response to climbing energy prices. Solar energy, with its generous tax incentives, offers a clean, renewable way out of the current operating cost spiral. Distributed power – power made where it is consumed – offers an economical alternative to these exorbitant energy costs. Suntech Hawaii anticipated this change and, by staffing up in advance, has been able to embrace the marketplace opportunity this presents, providing a clean, sustainable choice for businesses and government projects.

Suntech Hawaii is a renewable energy company specializing in solar photovoltaic and hot water systems. Founded in 2004, the company is now the largest Hawaii-owned and -operated solar integrator, and is an authorized SunPower dealer. Suntech Hawaii is active across the Hawaiian Islands and works with local and national alternative energy finance partners to make solar energy an accessible, affordable option for Hawaii businesses, government and non-profit entities. For more information visit www.suntechhawaii.com. Suntech Hawaii is not a subsidiary or affiliate of the solar module manufacturer Suntech (NYSE: STP).

Click here to download a PDF of the full press release.

Click here for a diagram of a photovoltaic system at work.