The World's Largest Solar-Powered Sustainable Community
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01. 6.06
The US Army and Actus Lend Lease have plans to build the world's largest solar-powered sustainable community on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The construction of 5,388 new homes, renovation/restoration of 2,506 residences and the creation of 10 community centers will cost US $2.2 billion dollars and will produce seven megawatts of photovoltaic paneling, providing approximately 30% of the community's electrical needs. The second-largest such solar community, the Sydney Olympic Village, had less than one megawatt of photovoltaic power installed. Because every little bit counts, the project has taken steps to tread lightly: Actus Lend Lease brought in a team of arborists to make every effort to preserve the original tree canopy on all the sites, and no old appliance, door or window will be sent to a landfill before first being offered to the low-income residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Army Hawaii initiative represents a big step forward in the cost-effectiveness of the technology; it's the first time a grid-connected project has been able to be profitable enough to install PV solar panels without subsidies. Currently, 93 percent of Hawaii's electrical power comes from burning oil, all of which is imported. The new solar power will save approximately 18,000 barrels of oil each year. Thanks to Remy for the tip! ::Actus Lend Lease Hawaii
I live in Hawaii and I'm all for renewable energy but DAAYYYUUUM 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS! This isn't a very good bang for the buck, what is the payback period? Wouldn't 2.2 billion be better spent of increasing efficience through out the state where governement building often use tens of thousands of dollars a MONTH. What about some other solar prjects like the sterling engine dishes or that array that focuses light with mirror to heat up sodium. It is my understanding that those technologies have greater efficencies and better upsides too.
I live in Hawaii and I'm all for renewable energy but DAAYYYUUUM 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS! This isn't a very good bang for the buck, what is the payback period? Wouldn't 2.2 billion be better spent of increasing efficience through out the state where governement building often use tens of thousands of dollars a MONTH. What about some other solar prjects like the sterling engine dishes or that array that focuses light with mirror to heat up sodium. It is my understanding that those technologies have greater efficencies and better upsides too.
Only 30% of their needs? That's unfortunate. Photovoltaics are half as efficient at converting solar energy to electricity as solar Stirling engines. (~15% vs. ~30%)
I don't know how feasible this is, but considering that Hawaii is volcanic, isn't there some way of using geothermal energy? Iceland is doing so with great success. I say they should use geothermal heat; that should be more than enough to meet their energy needs if they can successfully and safely tap it. (Force fresh water into deep holes drilled into porous rocks near a heat source (such as magma), and capture the escaping high pressure steam to turn turbines. . . hopefully without causing a steam explosing that sends rocks and steam everywhere.)
This is very exciting progress. However we absolutely need to manufacture all products using alternative energy and we need to stop manufacturing with fossil fuels and we need to start now. They shouldn't be making solar panels if they are just heating a few thousand homes with them plus the pieces and parts that go making these alternative energy parts were manufactured using fossil fuel. For me, this is not progress at all. But I suppose it's a start. We just need to pick up the pace x1000.
I think the $2.2 billion is the total cost including the new homes, reconstruction of old homes and the PVs. Can you help us out here Collin?
Hi everyone,
Thanks much for all your comments. Jesse, to answer your question, it appears that the $2.2 billion price tag covers everything, from the new homes to the renovation and the construction of the community centers as well -- a pretty impressive list, if a little spendy overall. They're breaking new ground here (so to speak) so the innovation and unprecedented size of the project will also contribute to the high price tag. Worth it? We'll have to wait and see...
solar paneling