A new 500 kilowatt solar farm in Kona will power 250+ homes on the Big Island, reducing oil imported to Hawai’i by 2,000 barrels annually. The concentrating solar power collectors, which are located at a 4 acre farm in the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i in Kona, are twice as efficient as photovoltaic panels, and cost less to manufacture.
Honolulu-based Sopogy Inc. developed the technology that has other applications as well. The storage component of these solar collectors is an important step forward in the application and spread of solar energy. Projects like this contribute to making Hawai’i a leader in alternative energy, reduces our dependence on imported fuels, and reduces Hawaii's carbon footprint.