BYU-Hawaii’s ongoing solar energy project is one of the campus’ sustainable efforts
To reduce its high electrical costs, lower carbon footprint, and improve power quality around the campus, BYU–Hawaii continues to take steps to achieve its sustainable goals through its solar energy project. Following the completion of the project’s phase one in May 2021, Kevin Schlag, university operations vice president, said, “This project has made BYU–Hawaii more eco-friendly and reduced our environmental impact,” according to the university’s official website. The rest of phase two is expected to be completed by 2026, said Jaxon McCloy, a mechanical engineer from the university’s Facilities Management.
The benefits of renewable energy
According to McCloy, the power quality of the solar energy project is a major advantage. “With the power quality of the solar system, it helps us avoid issues with equipment and systems that often result from poor-quality power.”
He said the electrical costs in Hawaii are also extremely expensive. “We have one of the higher utility rates in the country, and it’s tough to get quality power on the island, especially in our location,” he said. Being far from power plants meant the voltage and power quality often suffer, he explained.
To address these challenges, BYUH decided to install solar panels designed to meet the university’s power needs and to also minimize its dependence on local utility providers. “It makes sense financially for us to go the solar route. We can produce our power, reduce our utility demand, and benefit from tax incentives,” he explained.
BYUH has implemented a two-phase solar system construction project, said McCloy. He said Phase One was completed in 2021, which generates a third of the university’s annual energy needs. The rest of the remaining demand, he said, will be completed through Phase Two by 2026 and the additional solar panels will be installed on higher ground to lessen its vulnerability to flooding.
“To self-sustain BYU–Hawaii’s electrical needs is really exciting,” expressed Schlag in a university news article written by Leilani Guerrero, manager of digital communications. “We will improve our ability to sustain our facilities.”
“Laie is a beautiful, unique and special place,” said Schlag. “This project is a big step in fulfilling our kuleana as caretakers of this area,” he said.
In expanding the campus’ solar energy collection, President John S.K. Kauwe III said, “As a university, we strive to be good stewards over our resources. We are very proud of the progress we’ve made towards becoming a sustainable campus.”
The solar system panel’s design is based on the university’s high-energy consumption which is 15.7 megawatts annually. Its size is also based on power loads from 2019, which McCloy said were the highest load the university had in the past decade. “We expect to be 100 percent solar-powered, providing sufficient energy needs for not only the campus but also for the Laie Hawaii Temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center as well,” he said.
Overcoming challenges and looking ahead
Due to the island’s climate and geography, McCloy said designing and planning solar energy faces unique challenges.
“Our solar systems are built to withstand up to 140 mph winds, and we’ve also taken tsunami risk into account by positioning panels higher up on the hill to get them away from the tsunami zone,” he said. While it’s impossible to design for every natural disaster, McCloy said they’ve done what they can to mitigate the risks.
Despite having multiple benefits, he said the solar energy project has also generated discussion within the community. “Anytime you change something, the initial reaction is resistance,” he said. “But once we explain its environmental benefits, the support has been extremely positive.”
He said the community now understands the impact of reducing the campus’ reliance on the Hawaii power grid. McCloy said the university also has other sustainability initiatives, including water conservation practices and upgrading energy-efficient systems, in addition to the solar project. “We’re constantly looking for ways to reduce waste,” he said. “We’ve improved lighting controls, mechanical controls and optimized irrigation systems.”
“There’s a lot to do and there’s a lot of work,” he expressed. McCloy said they consider anything funded through the university to be sacred. Since the university uses tithing funds from the church, “we want to make sure we’re using that in the wisest way,” he said.
McCloy also encouraged students to contribute to the campus’s sustainable efforts as well. “We’re asking students to be mindful of their energy use, like keeping doors closed to conserve air conditioning, and reporting water leaks or waste,” he said. Anything students can do to conserve energy can make a big difference, he added.