Kona Brewing Co. is mixing solar energy and suds. The Kailua-Kona brewer said it will be the first beer production facility in Hawaiçi to be solar powered when the installation of a 229 kilowatt-capacity solar system is installed by April.

Kona Brewing said it expects the solar photovoltaic system will allow it to offset about 60 percent of its electricity usage and save it about $100,000 annually. The installation work is being performed by Sunetric.