Sunetric
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Solar Energy |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Sean Mullen and Beth Ann Mullen |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Hawaiian islands |
Key people | Sean Mullen (Founder and majority shareholder), Alex Tiller (CEO) |
| Products | Photovoltaic installations |
| Owner | Sean Mullen (Founder and majority shareholder) |
Number of employees | 80+ (2010) |
| Website | sunetric.com |
Sunetric is a Hawaii-based[1] residential, commercial, and non-profit[2] photovoltaic solar power company, and operates on all of the Hawaiian islands. The company was founded in 2004 as Suntech Hawaii by Sean Mullen[3], who is majority share holder in the company. Alex Tiller is the company's CEO.[4] The company handles system consulting, design, and installation, and remains responsible for maintenance, monitoring, and repairs.
Sunetric Capital, LLC is a separate entity that provides funding via capital investment for the Sunetric Power Plan, a Power Purchase Agreement[5] designed by Mullen whereby the company pays for the up-front costs of commercial projects and acts as owner and maintainer while customers (host) pay for the electricity generated by the renewable energy system. This reduces the initial cost to the business-owner or nonprofit entity.
Sunetric's push for photovoltaic installations is of particular import to the State of Hawaii, which, despite having already reached grid parity[6], relies on fuel imports for 90% of its energy needs[7], making it an ideal candidate for energy independence. Photovoltaic customers in Hawaii qualify for both a 35% state tax rebate and a 30% federal tax rebate on all photovoltaic installations.[8]
According to the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting photovoltaic permit records, Sunetric performs, on average, the installation and activation of 40% (the majority market share) of net-metered photovoltaic systems in Hawaii. Since its founding in 2004, the company has performed approximately 1,259 residential solar power installations and approximately 62 commercial installations, totaling over 8 megawatts throughout the islands.
In December 2008, Sunetric completed both the largest roof-mounted photovoltaic installation in Hawaii on top of Kona Commons shopping mall[9] and the second-largest solar farm in Hawaii at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Kauai. The Wilcox Memorial Hospital installation comprises 2,190 solar panels connected to 3 solar inverters with a rating of 504 kilowatts.[10]
Since 2006, the company has installed more than 2 megawatts of photovoltaic systems for military bases in Hawaii, including Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, Hickam AFB, Bellows AFB, and Aliamanu Military Reservation.[11] The company is responsible for a photovoltaic system used to power the hydrogen fuel cell plant at Hickam Air Force Base.[12]
See also
References
- ^ Pacific Business News: Kailua company adapts quickly as it follows the sun
- ^ KHON2: Solar Company Helping Non-Profit Groups
- ^ Pacific Business News: Forty Under 40 Class of 2010: Entrepreneur becomes a pioneer in showing Hawaii how to go solar
- ^ Hawaii solar firm names Alex Tiller CEO
- ^ Sunetric helps its customers finance solar projects
- ^ Grid-parity Analysis for EU and US Regions and Market Segments — Dynamics of Grid-parity and Dependence on Solar Irradiance, Local Electricity Prices and PV Progress Ratio
- ^ Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
- ^ [Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency: Hawaii: Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=HI]
- ^ Star Bulletin: Kona Commons gets solar system
- ^ PV-tech.org: SMA and Sunetric team up for Hawaii solar farm
- ^ Pacific Business News: Sunetric helps its customers finance solar projects
- ^ Pacific Air Forces: First solar-powered hydrogen plant in AF complete on Hickam