Residents of Puuanahulu are hoping to cut their monthly bills by installing a photovoltaic system to power their water supply. The initiative got an initial green light this week with the release of an environmental assessment that found the project
Residents of Puuanahulu are hoping to cut their monthly bills by installing a photovoltaic system to power their water supply. The initiative got an initial green light this week with the release of an environmental assessment that found the project would not significantly impact the landscape.
The small, community-owned system serves 150 water meters using two wells that draw from 2,500 feet below the surface. The electricity cost to draw from that deep runs about $8 per 1,000 gallons, said Rick Strojny, a member of the Na Puu Water Inc. board of directors. But it’s the only water serving homes and several ranches in this arid area. The solar array is planned for 1.75 acres of state land near the existing Puu Waawaa Ranch energy lab.
“We’re hoping for 15 to 18 percent savings on electricity,” Strojny said.
The water replenishes a 5 million gallon reservoir and is distributed to the Big Island Country Club and the Puuanahulu Volunteer Fire Station, among other users.
The system will be operated by photovoltaic provider SunWize Technologies Inc. through a power purchase agreement with the water company. Eight hundred panels and a flywheel storage system will give the array the ability to store 400 kWhrs of electricity, according to the EA.
Even without the energy cost savings, the project serves as a security measure if electricity became unavailable from the grid, according to the EA.
“An added benefit for the entire island population will be demonstration and testing of a successful energy security measure, which other communities may wish to adopt for their own water systems,” the EA states.
The project helps the state meet its goals of increased renewable energy and less reliance on fossil fuels to generate power. A nearby project using energy from the Lalamilo Wind Farm to power Hawaii County’s Lalamilo-Parker well system cleared similar environmental hurdles last summer. That initiative will save South Kohala ratepayers an estimated $1 million annually.
Email Bret Yager at byager@westhawaiitoday.com.
