Brigham Young University–Hawaii is launching Phase II of its comprehensive University Solar Project, an expansion that will allow the campus to meet 100% of its electrical energy needs. Once completed, the project will not only power the university but also extend its renewable energy services to the adjacent Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and the Laie Hawaii Temple.

Phase II is designed to enhance both environmental sustainability and campus resilience. The project will feature new ground-mount solar arrays situated southwest of campus, as well as additional solar canopies over a parking lot in the southeast corner of campus near the PCC Pacific Theater. When fully operational, the upgraded system will provide significant financial savings in annual utility costs.

A critical component of this second phase is a major upgrade to the university’s energy storage capabilities. The completed system will provide four to five days of emergency battery backup to critical services. It will also allow the university to isolate from the utility in emergencies, protecting the campus, PCC, and the temple from public grid power fluctuations and utility outages.

While the project experienced initial delays related to the permitting process, grading has officially begun.

This major infrastructure initiative builds directly on the success of Phase 1 of the University Solar Project, which was completed in November 2021. Phase 1 laid the groundwork for campus sustainability through the installation of rooftop panels, carport solar, and initial battery energy storage. The initial phase successfully met 39% of the university’s energy demands and significantly reduced the institution’s carbon footprint.

Phase II represents the capstone effort in transitioning the university’s electrical grid to fully self-sustaining, renewable energy.