Maui County’s water utility mounted solar panels on circular concrete reservoir rooftops at multiple sites to offset electricity costs, which account for a large share of water system operating expenses. The project required specialized engineering to avoid roof penetrations, manage ballast weight, and maintain inspection access.
- The County of Maui water utility installed 105–141 kW-DC solar arrays on top of existing circular concrete water storage reservoirs.
- Electricity costs make up roughly 25–30% of water utility operations, making on-site solar a direct cost-reduction tool.
- Arrays were ballasted rather than fastened to avoid penetrating reservoir roofs, with structural capacity confirmed before installation.
- Layouts required careful planning to fit rectangular panel grids on circular roofs while preserving access hatches, vents, and fire-code clearance paths.
- Johnson Controls served as the program contractor across the multi-site portfolio.
Source: Renewableenergyworld
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