US-based Kona Brewing Company has announced that the brewery is using a new, 228 kw photovoltaic system- a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity at its headquarters in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
The company has set up 990 solar panels on its warehouse roof which can produce about 60% of the electricity for the pub and brewery, reports honolulumagazine.com.
The brewer said the solar energy system is expected to offset 16,830 barrels of oil, as well as prevent almost 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Kona Brewing president and CEO Mattson Davis said, “It’s innovative, it’s the right thing to do and it’s environmentally responsible, especially since we live in an island environment.”
The manufacturer expects the new system to save more than $100,000 in electricity bills per year.
Kona brewing said the new solar panels are installed by Sunetric, a local solar energy company.