honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, June 25, 2009

Honolulu company wins solar contract


Advertiser Staff

Using federal stimulus funds, the Navy has awarded a $403,633 architectural and engineering contract to Honolulu-based SSFM International for photovoltaic power systems at Navy facilities.

The photovoltaic systems will be mounted on the roofs of five large buildings at Pearl Harbor and 10 small buildings at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua'i, according to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawai'i.

SSFM is expected to complete its work under the contract by Sept. 30.

The design documents are required to create plans for the photovoltaic systems that will produce a combined 2.2 megawatts of continuous power during peak daylight hours in its first year, the Navy said.

The output is comparable to the energy required to power approximately 1,000 homes, and is equal to about 5 percent of the Navy's energy consumption on O'ahu.

During its 20-year service life, the system is expected to retain at least 80 percent of its first-year output.

The Department of Defense received $7.4 billion in stimulus funds out of $787 billion total approved by Congress.

The Navy in Hawai'i received $124 million to modernize Navy and Marine Corps shore infrastructure, officials said.

To help put local contractors to work, the funds will be used for projects as quickly as possible, the Navy said.