Source: http://www.8thingstodo.com/turtle-island-fijian-all-inclusive-exotic-island-resort#.UVs0saVgPFI

Turtle Island Resort is located on Turtle Island, Yasawas, Fiji. This resort has recently completed a groundbreaking solar installation, making it one of the first ever clean energy resorts in the world.  This extraordinary project entailed a total of 968 solar panels being installed on the island, it commenced in early 2012 and is now fully operational; the installation renders the resort nearly 100% self-sufficient on the sun’s clean energy. Through its ecologically conscious operations, the resort runs on an average of 85% solar power, more than any other island resort in Fiji, and perhaps any luxury resort worldwide.  The new solar installation on Turtle Island produces 1 mega watt of power a day, enough to cover 100% of the power needs of the island on a sunny day. Even on rainy or cloudy days, the backup generator reduces the total solar power to about 85%, maintaining outstanding energy efficiency. This project has also provided surrounding villagers with numerous job opportunities. The installation will save an estimated 220 tons of carbon emissions per year, significantly reducing the island’s carbon footprint, and setting a new standard for luxury resorts around the world. Turtle Island has been a leader in sustainable tourism for some time now; owner Richard Evanson has worked to preserve its rich biodiversity, provide the island with a 90% tree canopy, and protect the cultural integrity of the indigenous reforestation program over the last 3 decades. Evanson has planted some 900,000 trees on the island which has promoted ecological diversity, re-established indigenous forests, prevented soil erosion, created windbreaks, and added to the extraordinary natural beauty on the island. Through this important solar installation and many other efforts, Turtle Island continues to set a new standard for hotels and resorts around the world to offer guests a socially conscious option for global travel.

Source: News release- Turtle Island Resort in Fiji Sets a New Standard for Worldwide Resorts, by Operating on Nearly 100% Solar Energy

Source: Bosch Solar Energy, Maui County car port

Bosch Solar Energy, a division of the Bosch Group, has completed the largest solar photovoltaic project in Maui County, Hawaii. The Bosch Group’s Solar Energy Division is a leading supplier of photovoltaic products. This company offers high quality solar cells and modules for photovoltaic power generation; the division also develops top-quality turnkey solar power plants. The completed solar project in Maui is 1.9 megawatts and will provide power for 11 sites including: four fire stations, two senior centers, the Lahaina police station, the Eddie Tam Community Center, and the Kihei Aquatic Center. Two wastewater treatment facilities occupy the largest number of solar panels installed, at 3,696 panels. Mayor Alan Arakawa comments that this project provided more than 200 local jobs for four months and will save the county in total more than $10 million over 20 years. Maui county was able to go solar with no upfront costs because Bosch Solar energy and its partners jointly developed, constructed, and financed the Power Purchase Agreement project. The completion of this large project is a great contribution to the county’s commitment to installing renewable energy systems and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Source: Bosch Solar Energy news release- Bosch Solar Energy Completes 1.9 Megawatt Project in Maui County

Source: http://www.getsolar.com/News/Solar-Energy-Facts/General/UPS-to-Install-Solar-Panels-in-New-Jersey-Facilities-389316

UPS (NYSE: UPS) has recently announced that the company has invested in two new solar projects at its New Jersey facilities, one in Parsippany and the other in Secaucus. These facilities showcase the business benefits of owning and operating sustainable energy systems and demonstrate the company’s commitment to increase the use of renewable energy resources in the U.S. and throughout the world. The Parsippany project was completed in the fall of 2012 and the Secaucus project is said to be finished this spring; both will be 1.2 megawatt facilities. The combined power of these projects is said to be equivalent to providing electricity for more than 300 homes annually. UPS will be using a direct ownership approach by developing, engineering, purchasing, and operating the solar panel arrays in-house. Differing from the typical model of outsourcing roof space for solar panels to a third party, UPS has revealed the best practices to produce a strong return on its investment in current and future developments. Technology improvements, lower prices for solar panel installation, and availability of government incentives has encouraged UPS to finance and build its own solar projects. The company’s approach of operating its own systems can also help community power grids by providing a hedge against possible energy price hikes during peak usage times.

New Jersey is a state with one of the nation’s most progressive solar energy policies and is currently second in the U.S. for total installed capacity of solar energy technology. The New York-Northern New Jersey area historically has high peak demand periods for kilowatt hours, especially during summer months. These facilities will help protect against these peak times because they will typically operate during off-peak hours, allowing a significant portion of the renewable energy to flow back to the grid in what is known as net metering. UPS has been investing in solar power development since 2004, when solar panels were installed on a facility in Palm Springs, California. Since, the company’s solar power development has also spread to its European regional air hub in Cologne, Germany.

UPS has taken the role of the end user. They have developed the project from start to finish, employing their own engineers, instead of relying on installer companies. SOLAR 2013 will have an added focus on end-users. If you are interested in learning more about this ideal, come to Baltimore from April 16-20! Learn more here.

Source: UPS News Release, UPS Expands Renewable Energy Output at New Jersey Facilities- Demonstrate Economically-Viable Solar Projects