Maui Coast Solar Array to Reduce Costs by 30%

Maui Coast Hotel, photo courtesy Sarah Ruppenthal.

By Maui Now Staff

A new solar array at the Maui Coast Hotel in Kīhei is expected to generate enough energy annually to reduce electric costs by 30%, according to a company announcement.

Management at the Maui Coast Hotel celebrated the completion of the 426 kW solar array, which was designed and installed in partnership with Rising Sun Solar & Electric, based out of Haʻikū, Maui.

The output from the new high-efficiency system is expected to offset approximately 766,370 kWh of electricity each year, which translates to enough to energy to power 115 homes, the announcement said.

In addition to lowering the hotel’s monthly energy bills, company officials say the solar system will decrease greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the amount captured by 363 acres of trees.

“We’ve been thinking about solar for a long time and we wanted to do it right,” said Maui Coast Hotel General Manager David Frazier in a press release.

“I wanted a system that would maximize our solar potential without requiring the addition of any infrastructure,” said Fraizier of the array, which covers an estimated 30,000 square-feet of space.

RSSE co-owner Matias Bessaso also commented saying the company was able to get the most out of the design by utilizing the hotel’s pitched tile roofs, flat upper tub roofs and a re-purposed tennis court.

The hotel announcement notes that the array will be featured on a future episode of the Discovery Channel’s eco-friendly Shades of Green series.

***Supporting information courtesy Sarah Ruppenthal.