News

Food for Thought: One of Hawaii’s Largest Food Distributors Goes Solar

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:28:00 GMT

Y. Hata and Sunetric Team Up for One of the State’s Biggest PV Systems

(Honolulu, Hawaii) … Hawaii’s premier foodservice distributor, Y. Hata & Co., Ltd. will soon be distributing more than just food and restaurant supplies. Sunetric, the state’s largest locally owned-and-operated solar company, is set to install one of Hawaii’s largest roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar systems on Y. Hata’s warehouse on Sand Island, Oahu. The 600 kW installation stands to be the largest on Oahu in 2010, allowing Y. Hata & Co. to redistribute the sun’s energy for more than 25 years.

“We have continually upgraded our operations with the most sophisticated hardware, software, machinery and training,” explains Kurt Fey, vice president of operations at Y. Hata & Co., Ltd., “We are committed to maintaining a state-of-the art facility, so installing a photovoltaic solar system with the help of Sunetric, the industry’s experts, is right on target. In essence, our customers will benefit as we provide them with the most cost-effective reliable service available.”

Sunetric will begin installation this October. The $2.5-million system will include 2,616 230- watt solar modules on Y. Hata’s rooftop space. The system is estimated to produce an average of 2,636 kWh of electricity each day, allowing Y. Hata to offset 22 percent of its current electricity usage.

“Y. Hata is poised to save almost $200,000 a year on their energy bill, and that could offset their entire expenditure in less than four years,” says Marc Unowitz, Sunetric energy consultant, “This system will make a positive impact on Y. Hata’s business and a huge impact on Hawaii’s environment.”

Founder of Sunetric, Sean Mullen, adds, “Like Sunetric, Y. Hata is a great locally-owned company with leadership that understands that PV solar energy is a clean, renewable energy source that doesn’t pollute or consume natural resources.”

Over the next 30 years, Y. Hata’s PV system is estimated to prevent approximately 23,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering Hawaii’s air annually; this is about the same pollution generated by 15-million car trips to the local grocery store. The solar array will offset 48,000 barrels of oil that would otherwise be burned to make electricity during the next 30 years.

Headquartered in Honolulu and operating on Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii, Y. Hata considers itself to be a "brand new, century-old company." The company, which distributes dry, chilled and frozen products, was founded in 1913 by Yoichi Hata. His grandson, Russell Hata, is the company’s current chairman and president.

Sunetric, founded in 2004 by Sean and Beth-Ann Mullen, specializes in photovoltaic system design and installation. A SunPower Elite dealer, Sunetric has access to the highest efficiency photo-voltaic panels available and has installed several of the largest photovoltaic systems in Hawaii, including Kona Commons shopping center on the Big Island and Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Kauai. www.sunetric.com.

Click here to download a PDF of the full press release.

On the web:
Hawaii News Now
Pacific Business News
Renewable Energy World
Don at Dawn
Energy Central
Daily Me
Osmosus

Alex Tiller Named CEO of Sunetric

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:44:00 GMT

Alex Tiller has been named CEO of Sunetric, Hawaii's largest locally owned-and-operated solar company. Tiller will oversee all business operations and spearhead a suite of organizational and structural initiatives focused on growth and sustainability for 2010 and beyond.

“Alex is perfect as our new CEO,” explained Sean Mullen, founder of Sunetric. “Sunetric is growing so fast that we needed someone who knew our company and could give us 100% of their energy in order to guide us into the future. It’s an exciting time for the solar industry and I’m confident that Alex, with his background and vision, is the right person to take us to new horizons.”

Tiller, who currently resides in Honolulu with his wife, initially joined Sunetric Capital as a managing partner in early 2009. He has nearly two decades of strategic business development experience in the financial services and high-technology fields, including launching a tech startup in 2002; management at Fidelity Investments; consulting for hedge funds; and developing a private equity offering that focused on agriculture and sustainability.

"We have a great team at Sunetric and my goal is to help them succeed by providing the tools and guidance they need to shine," said Tiller. "Sean has done an amazing job. He is a solar expert – he single-handedly developed and grew Sunetric, jump-starting the solar industry in Hawaii. I think that we are all looking forward to letting Sean get back to being a forward-thinking innovator of renewable energy while I focus on the business aspect of the company."

Sean Mullen, the founding partner of Sunetric, will head up Sunetric’s commercial and government business unit including sales, design, engineering, research and development, as well as project construction.

Click here to read Tiller's announcement in Pacific Business News.

Watt Wheels Powers Sunset Beach Pro Stand-Up Paddle

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:30:00 GMT

Sunetric’s Watt Wheels mobile solar energy station will provide free electricity for the Waterman League’s World Tour: Sunset Beach Pro Stand-Up Paddle. This three-day North Shore event occurs during the best ocean conditions within the holding period, Saturday, February 6 through Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Watt Wheels will provide quiet, clean power for the PA system, computers, printers, phones, etc. These items usually require a gasoline-powered generator that releases noxious gases into the atmosphere and also causes noise pollution. Watt Wheels will also help the environment at the Na Kama Kai clinic, by providing solar power on Sunday, February 14 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Kapiolani Park bandstand in Waikiki. The clinic teaches ocean awareness and safety to keiki in the community through cultural and environmental instruction.

“Our philosophy is to preserve a lifestyle which is powered by nature, as well as to support renewable energy which, in turn, will keep our environment clean,” explains Tristan Boxford, CEO of Waterman League. “We’re thrilled to work with the people at Sunetric who are positively changing our environment.”

Check out photos from the competition and the nod to Sunetric in Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine.

Sunetric To Install Solar at Kona Brewing Company

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:14:00 GMT

Kona Brewing Company recently announced it has signed a contract with Sunetric to install a 229 kW solar energy generating system at its Kailua-Kona brewery and pub on Hawaii’s Big Island. Construction has begun on the system, and it is expected to be fully operational by April, 2010.

The project, a roof-mounted grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system, is estimated to produce an average of 900 kWh of electricity each day, which will allow Kona Brewing Company nearly 60 percent offset of its current electricity usage. It will include 880 260-watt solar modules on the brewery’s rooftop space. At the entrance to the restaurant, Kona Brewing Company guests will be able to check out a real-time monitor that shows how much energy the solar system is generating. At the current commercial retail electricity rate, the system will offset more than $100,000 in Kona Brewing Company’s electricity expenditures per year.

PV solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source. It does not pollute or consume natural resources. Sunetric estimates that over the next 30 years Kona Brewing Company’s PV system will prevent approximately 7,730 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere annually, or about 5 million car trips to a local grocery store. The solar array offsets 16,425 barrels of oil that would otherwise be burned to make electricity during the next 30 years.

Watch Sunetric's Alex Tiller and Kona Brewery's Mattson Davis discuss the partnership on KHON, Channel 2.

Sunetric's Glen Smith promoted to Sales Manager

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:05:00 GMT

Sunetric is pleased to announce the promotion of Glen Smith to Sales Manager for his leadership and dedication.

Sunetric’s Christopher B. Branch earns prestigious LOGTECH MBA

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:58:00 GMT

On December 18, 2009, Sunetric’s Christopher B. Branch received an MBA from The Center of Excellence in Logistics and Technology (LOGTECH). Managed by the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB), LOGTECH collaborates with two of the nation's leading business schools--Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School--to deliver the LOGTECH MBA, a unique online and residential MBA program with a concentration in defense logistics. The program provides a select class of professional logisticians from all the military services as well as government agencies and the private sector with an educational experience focused on current business concepts and logistics practices.

Congratulations to Christopher on this outstanding accomplishment from his Sunetric ohana.

Sunetric energizes Maui Waena Robotics and Tech Club

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:49:00 GMT

What does it take to propel a golf cart with solar energy? Ask Maui Waena Intermediate School's Robotics and Technology Club.

"Without the support of Tracy from GreenCarts Hawaii and Scott from Sunetric, we would have never had the chance to see our idea of the SPA (solar powered automobile) come to life. We learned so much from this project and hope that we can work together to make this a "Greener" island. Mahalo from the Maui Waena Robotics and Technology Team"

Business Leadership Hawaii 2009 Finalist

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Sunetric would like to thank Pacific Business News and its sponsor committee for selecting Sunetric as a finalist in both the Best In Business IIand Innovative Company of the Year categories of Business Leadership Hawaii 2009.

Featured in Hawaii Business Top 250

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:04:00 GMT

The economy is tough right now, but Sunetric is up in this down economy, and has beat the odds with a staggering 885% gain from 2007 to 2008. Get the full article below.

Download the full article

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Read the full article at the Hawaii Business website

August 2009 Issue

Suntech Hawaii Installs Extensive Solar Power System in Record Time at Navy Community Center

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:04:00 GMT

107 kW SunPower system completed within 45 days

HONOLULU – www.suntechhawaii.com – Suntech Hawaii, a locally owned and operated solar integrator, recently completed a 107-kilowatt high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) solar electric power system at the Ohana Military Communities’ Halsey Terrace neighborhood Community Center on behalf of Forest City Military Communities - Hawaii. Suntech Hawaii completed this extensive system in record time after receiving notice to proceed April 15. The system was commissioned today at 10:30 AM at an on-site ceremony hosted by Mr. Jon Wallenstrom, Senior Vice President, Forest City Military Communities – Hawaii.

Using SunPower solar panels, which are the highest efficiency panels available on the market today, the project produces enough power to offset the consumption of about 10 fully air-conditioned homes in the Halsey Terrace neighborhood.

The 477-panel solar system at Halsey Terrace was not included in Forest City’s original project plans. The decision to include it was made at the last minute, requiring Suntech Hawaii to accelerate all phases of procurement and construction. Working 12-hour shifts, six days a week, Suntech Hawaii finished the entire job in just 45 days on May 31.

"We were very pleased that Suntech Hawaii was able to get the project turned around on the schedule we required," said Jim Ramirez, vice president of construction for Forest City Military Communities. "This is our first solar power system in Hawaii and Suntech's performance was exemplified not only in the product they delivered but their professionalism and expertise in explaining solar energy technology to the Forest City team".

”With today’s energy prices, the demand for solar is very high. It can take two to three months simply to get solar panels to the job site,” said Todd Georgopapadakos, Suntech’s vice president of business development. “In this case, we had the total commitment of SunPower Corporation, and we were able to get materials in just three weeks, which made it possible to meet Forest City’s aggressive timeline. In addition, our company has been preparing to do commercial jobs at this scale and intense pace for some time, so we jumped at the opportunity.”

Maintaining site aesthetics placed additional demands on Suntech Hawaii installation team. In order to preserve the project’s architectural continuity, Suntech Hawaii installed the panels in a staggered pattern over an existing tiled roof.

“The SunPower panels complement the design scheme of the buildings, maintaining the look and feel of the existing buildings,” said Forest City Development Manager Will Boudra. “Furthermore, our Hawaii communities need to be sustainable, so integrating high-efficiency green building technologies is a top priority in our developments.”

Across the state, the pace of commercial solar installations is exploding in response to climbing energy prices. Solar energy, with its generous tax incentives, offers a clean, renewable way out of the current operating cost spiral. Distributed power – power made where it is consumed – offers an economical alternative to these exorbitant energy costs. Suntech Hawaii anticipated this change and, by staffing up in advance, has been able to embrace the marketplace opportunity this presents, providing a clean, sustainable choice for businesses and government projects.

Suntech Hawaii is a renewable energy company specializing in solar photovoltaic systems. Founded in 2004, the company is now the largest Hawaii-owned and -operated solar integrator, and is an authorized SunPower dealer. Suntech Hawaii is active across the Hawaiian Islands and works with local and national alternative energy finance partners to make solar energy an accessible, affordable option for Hawaii businesses, government and non-profit entities. For more information visit www.suntechhawaii.com. Suntech Hawaii is not a subsidiary or affiliate of the solar module manufacturer Suntech (NYSE: STP).

Click here to download a PDF of the full press release.

Click here for a diagram of photovoltaic system at work.

Archive of News Releases

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:09:00 GMT

June 2008. Suntech Hawaii announces contract for 107 kW Hydrogen Fueling Station Solar project with Enova Systems.

June 2008. Suntech Hawaii announces contract for 78 kW PV system with Bowers and Kubota.

June 5, 2008. Suntech Hawaii hires CAD Specialist. Suntech Hawaii announces the hiring of Rod Braunthal, a CAD operator with 15 years experience, to head up its in-house design team.

June 1, 2008. Suntech Hawaii hires VP of Construction Operations. Josh Powell, formerly a consultant to Forest City Enterprises and Project Manager at Actus Lend Lease adds experience in management of $350 million in construction value of the last decade.

May 31, 2008. Suntech Hawaii completes 107 kW PV system with Forest City Enterprises 47 days from signing notice to procede. This pilot system at the Halsey Terrace Community Center will debut Forest City’s commitment to greening the power supply on its military privatization projects.

May 21, 2008. Mark Duda, Suntech VP of Finance, presents on state of commercial PV market at DBEDT Buld Green Buy Green conference.

May 2008. Suntech Hawaii announces contract for 107 kW PV contract with Island Gourmet Foods.

April 18, 2008. Suntech executives appear on KHNL News 8 to give away free solar water heating system for Earth Day. Derek Tanabe of Kaneohe was our proud winner.

April 2008. Suntech Hawaii announces contract for 60 kW PV system for Alan Shintani.

April 2008. Suntech Hawaii announces contract for 100 kW PV system and 3,000 gallon soalr hot water system for Convalescent Center for Honolulu.

April 2008. Suntech Hawaii announces contract for 107 kW PV system with Forest City Enterprises. This pilot system at the Halsey Terrace Community Center will debut Forest City’s commitment to greening the power supply on its military privatization projects.

March 17, 2008. Suntech Hawaii executive presents information on military contracting at US DOD Pacific Rim Commanders conference.

March 15-16, 2008. Todd Georgopapdakos, VP of Business Development and Peter Fletter, Project Manager, present on residential PV applicatiosn in Hawaii market at the Green Living Expo.

February 8, 2008. Mark Duda appears on Hawaii Public television’s Everybody’s Business to discuss booming commercial PV market in Hawaii. Mark joins host Howard Dicus discusses the opportunities for Hawaii businesses to lower operating costs and demonstrate their green credentials by going solar.

February 20, 2008. Suntech’s VP of Finance named to Hawaii PV Coalition Board of Directors. Association of Hawaii-based solar integrators with active legislative presence names Mark Duda to its five member board of directors.

January 30, 2008. Suntech Hawaii VP of Finance Mark Duda named HSEA PV Committee Co-Chair. Mark Duda, Suntech Hawaii’s VP of Finance, was selected by the Hawaii Solar Energy Association to head up its PV legislative/regulatory activities.

Jan 30, 2008. Mark Duda and Sean Mullen appear on Hawaii Public Radio’s Think Tech. Senior managers from Suntech Hawaii join host Jay Fiedel to discuss the impending boom in distributed generation in Hawaii’s business community.

January 22, 2008. Suntech Hawaii announces 804 kW Kona Commons project. Series of systems for tenants at MacNaughton Group and Kobayoshi Group’s retail center

Suntech Hawaii to Build State’s Largest Rooftop Solar Project

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:07:00 GMT

804kW System will be Sited at Kona Commons, Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i KAILUA,

Oahu, January 22, 2008 – Suntech Hawaii today announced that it has been engaged by MK Kona Commons, LLC a subsidiary of the The MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group to develop an 804 kW solar photovoltaic system for its Kona Commons, Phase I, retail property. When placed in service in the fall of 2008, the project will produce more than 1.1 million kWh of electricity each year, enough to power 128 homes and eliminate 1.8 million pounds of carbon emissions annually.

Hawaii’s electricity rates are the highest in the nation, with Big Island businesses paying more than 30 cents per kWh. “The Kona Commons project is a direct reflection of the commercial appeal photovoltaics have in Hawaii’s energy market place” said Suntech’s President, Sean Mullen. “Between generous federal and state tax incentives and our ever-increasing electricity rates, the business case for solar has never been stronger.”

As a state, Hawaii produces virtually all of its electricity from fossil fuels - 78 percent from petroleum and another 14 percent from coal – all of which must be imported. As scientists continue to document the impacts of global warming, with sea level rise a particular concern for Hawaii residents, switching to renewable energy sources such as solar is an important way for the state to limit the environmental impact of its activities. Members of the business community are now taking the lead in weaning Hawaii off carbon-intensive electricity.

“Sustainable building practices are consistent with the corporate culture we’ve built as an environmentally responsible developer” said BJ Kobayashi, CEO of Kobayashi Group. “At Kona Commons investing in solar not only made sense for the bottom line but it was also the clearest statement we could make to our tenants and the people of Hawaii about our commitment to the environment.”

Over their lifetime, renewables generate far more jobs than fossil fuels per unit of energy produced. Researchers at UC Berkeley found that solar photovoltaics create the most jobs per MWh of capacity – an average of 9.0, compared to 1.0 for coal and 1.8 for wind and biomass projects. At these rates and with the State’s continued support of the alternative energy industry, renewables are set to be an engine of high-quality, high-tech job growth in the coming decades.

“Going green in partnership with a local company like Suntech Hawaii is a meaningful step that Hawaii’s businesses can take to develop the local economy by supporting Hawaii’s growing alternative energy industry” said Jeff Dinsmore, President of MKC Management, which oversees the development of the Kona Commons project. Nationally, the number of alternative energy jobs now exceeds 450,000, with 95 percent in the private sector.

Click here to download the full press release as a PDF.