Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Thursday, November 14, 2024 76° Today's Paper


BusinessHawaii News

State to harness idle solar farm for fresh water

1/2
Swipe or click to see more

COURTESY NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII

A Kona energy lab plans to make drinkable water using an abandoned $20M solar farm.

2/2
Swipe or click to see more

COURTESY NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII

This abandoned solar farm at Keahole Point was built by local technology company Sopogy Inc. in 2009 at a state technology park in Kona. Sopogy went out of business in 2014. The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, a state agency and landlord, has found a new use for the facility to help turn salt water into fresh water under a federal grant aimed at advancing desalination technology.