Case Study: Hawaiʻi Island Retreat

Type: Case Study
Categories: Energy Storage, GHG Emissions, Microgrids, Commercial, Solar, Wind
Date Published: 2/21/2025
Author: By Department of Energy Better Buildings
Primary Topic: Microgrids

Hawaiʻi Island Retreat, a 20-room eco-boutique sustainable hotel, operates on 100% onsite renewable energy generation from solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, a wind turbine, and a battery energy storage system (BESS), and an emergency generator.

At the time Hawaiʻi Island Retreat planned opening doors in the early 2000s, there were significant challenges to electrification in a remote area of Hawaiʻi. In examining their options, the facility owners opted for a whole off-grid system integrating solar PV, solar water heaters, a wind turbine, and a BESS to supply their facility. Over time, the system has evolved to meet the retreat's needs, including periodic expansion and equipment improvements.

To read more about the hotel's journey to operate completely off-grid — including project development, evolution, costs and community benefits — download the case study from Better Buildings:

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