Hawaii’s Kona Brewing Company, a business known for its commitment to environmental causes, just announced its intent to add a solar power plus battery storage system at the new brewery, which is presently under construction in Kailua Kona, Hawaii.
The deal has already been agreed to and will be carried out by EnSync, Inc. , the leading provider of innovative distributed energy resources (DERs) and business models for residential, commercial and utility installations, and EnSync’s subsidiary, Holu Energy, a business that develops DER projects in Hawaii. The agreed upon deal will span a period of 20 years.
What does such a generator entail? According to official sources, the power will be provided by a 336 kilowatt roof-mounted photovoltaic system and an EnSync DER SuperModule. Housed within the latter is a 122 kilowatt hour battery system that will store excess solar generation for later use. Continuing the tech talk, the Matrix Energy Management system, a process that uses DER Flex Internet of Energy technology to interact with the main grid, will act as a means to deliver the least costly and most efficient electricity. The result is a solar powered electricity system that is expected to supply twenty five percent of the brewery’s needs, leading to peak output of 6,875 cans of sun-powered beer each hour.
Ted Peck, the president of Holu Energy, says the new system will help Kona achieve green energy goals and alleviate the high cost of electricity, which happens to me more expensive in Hawaii than in any other state.
“This installation offers Kona Brewing a fully integrated resource to meet its dual goals of using clean energy and reducing energy costs, which in Hawaii are the highest in the nation” said Peck. “Integrating energy storage with PV will help the brewery reduce expensive peak demand charges, add resiliency, and provide grid services, which benefits both the local utility and Kona Brewing,” Peck added.
With energy storage capabilities, Kona Brewing will be able to actively participate in utility Hawaiian Electric’s demand response programs– a program that encourages energy efficiency through incentives. Kona Brewing sustainability manager Julia Person says the project will further Kona’s commitment to clean energy.
“Since it formed over 20 years ago, Kona Brewing has been committed to making locally brewed beers in an environmentally responsible way,” said Person. “By partnering with Holu, we are working with another Hawaiian business to reduce our imported fossil fuel use and create on-site solar energy that helps the state meet its renewable energy goals. This partnership demonstrates how we embrace innovation to maintain our commitment to the ‘Aloha spirit’ and the larger Hawaiian community.”
Brad Hansen, CEO of EnSync Energy, says the partnership will help further Hawaii’s focus on green solutions to everyday issues/needs.
“We are thrilled to deliver cost-effective clean energy to Kona Brewing, a prominent Hawaiian company with customers around the country,” said Hansen. “As Hawaii is a hotspot for deploying innovative solar and storage systems, this project is an exciting milestone in both our and Holu’s ongoing mission to lead in the state’s robust market.”
Kona Brewing’s new facility is under construction right now. The installation of the solar energy system is scheduled for early 2019.
That’s such a great step in an awesome direction. Go Kona! 😊
This is awesome, which more businesses would go this route.
I’m hoping Kona Brewing sets a trend that others follow. In Hawaii, I know that many other businesses are doing what they can to be carbon- neutral, but not many companies in the 48 states have done much to improve their environmental impact.
Glad to hear! That’s so awesome.