Solar Cart project powers up renewable energy

At first glance, the Solar Cart, built by the Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) Hawaiʻi team at Kapiʻolani Community College, appears to be a simple set up of two ordinary solar panels propped up against a wooden chest. But upon closer inspection, the cart is actually a student and faculty-designed solar power apparatus with the ability to provide 500 watts/hour of solar AC power.

ESW, headed by Kapiʻolani CC engineering and physics professor Aaron Hanai and biochemistry professor Harry Davis, challenged students and faculty to think about how science, technology, engineering and mathematics can be applied towards building a more sustainable campus.

ESW’s Solar Cart project was sponsored by Solar Cool Hawaiʻi, All-Build Construction, Universal Manufacturers and Re-use Hawaiʻi. The team is currently working to re-purpose the solar cart to be a permanent fixture at Kapiʻolani CC’s loʻi kalo that will provide power for the loʻi’s pump system.

University of Hawai‘i Alumni