The University of Hawaii at Manoa expects to cut its electricity bill by $500,000 over the next 25 years with the installation of a solar power system on the roof of Sinclair Library.

The 31.5-kilowatt photovoltaic system dedicated today will produce enough energy to power about 135 homes a year over the lifetime of the project, according to university officials.

The $271,000 photovoltaic project is an “important early step” in the University’s long-term goal to deploy renewable energy at the flagship campus, according to a UH news release. UH Manoa’s is planning to spend $35 million to install about 5 megawatts of solar generating capacity that would provide an estimated 7 percent to 10 percent of the campus’ energy needs.

The 140 solar modules at Sinclair installed by Hoku Solar are raised at least 24 inches from the rooftop to prevent shading and reduce heat load to the library rooftop, effectively reducing energy consumption by air conditioned areas in the library. A monitoring system will provide output levels as well as provide email alerts if a system error occurs.