WAREHOUSE/FOOD/RE-POWER
Wholesale Unlimited Re-Powers Its Solar Future with Sunspear Energy
165.4 kW
Total System Size
440W
Solar Modules
Waipahu, HI
Location
For more than 60 years, Wholesale Unlimited has been part of Hawai‘i’s local food culture. Founded in 1965 and known as “Hawaii’s One Stop Snack Shop,” the homegrown company has served generations of kama‘āina and visitors with the flavors people grew up loving—from crack seed, li hing mui, ume, dried fruit and arare to Japanese rice crackers, dried seafood and other island favorites.
But there is more to Wholesale Unlimited than an incredible array of delicious island goodies. Wholesale Unlimited is also one of Hawaii’s earliest adopters of commercial solar power. In 2012, the company installed solar on its Waipahu warehouse, three years before Hawai‘i established its landmark 100% renewable portfolio standard for electricity. And more than a decade later, that early investment was ready for its next chapter.
Sunspear Energy recently completed a 165.4 kW re-power of Wholesale Unlimited’s original rooftop solar system, replacing aging equipment with modern, higher-output technology designed to produce substantially more clean energy, reduce electricity costs and preserve the property’s valuable legacy Net Energy Metering (NEM) position.
“Wholesale Unlimited was ahead of the curve when it invested in commercial solar in 2012. This project demonstrates that an aging solar array doesn’t have to become a stranded asset. With the right engineering strategy, we can take an early clean-energy investment, apply today’s technology, and give that rooftop an entirely new generation of productive life, all while preserving the value of its existing NEM program.”
The Challenge: An Aging Solar System with an Opportunity for More
Solar technology has advanced significantly since Wholesale Unlimited installed its original system in 2012. The existing array had served the business for more than a decade, but its aging equipment was significantly underperforming. The original solar modules were rated at approximately 230 watts each, roughly half the nameplate power of the 440-watt modules available today.
Simply replacing the old system, however, wasn’t enough. Wholesale Unlimited’s legacy NEM position represented a valuable component of its original solar investment. Sunspear needed to engineer a system capable of taking advantage of today’s higher-output technology and maximizing the available rooftop while meeting utility requirements necessary to preserve the existing NEM arrangement.
As part of the project, the team also needed to address the condition of the warehouse roof before installing an entirely new solar array.
The Solution: Re-Powering the Rooftop with Next-Generation Solar
Sunspear began by removing Wholesale Unlimited’s original solar array. Rather than sending the retired modules to the landfill, they were recycled through Inter-Island Solar Supply’s PV Recycling Program.
With the original system removed, Sunspear coordinated a silicone-over-metal restoration of the warehouse roof to prepare the property for its new long-term energy asset.
The team then engineered and installed a new 165.4 kW rooftop solar system, featuring JA Solar 440-watt modules, Pegasus racking, and SolarEdge inverters with SolarEdge monitoring.
The difference in technology between 2012 and today is substantial. By moving from approximately 230-watt modules to 440-watt modules, Sunspear was able to dramatically increase the power available from each panel. Modern inverter technology, thoughtful system design and careful inverter sizing allowed the team to maximize the facility’s available roof area while meeting utility requirements and preserving Wholesale Unlimited’s existing NEM status.
The project also includes an additional layer of long-term protection.
As a Solar Insure Elite Partner, Sunspear provided Wholesale Unlimited with Solar Insure SI-Commercial warranty coverage, designed specifically to protect commercial solar assets. The program provides 30-year coverage for qualifying solar panels and 20-year coverage for qualifying inverters, including parts, labor and shipping costs for covered repairs. It also includes manufacturer and installer default protection backed by Zurich, an A.M. Best A+ rated insurance carrier.
“A commercial solar investment should deliver value for decades, not just years. Pairing Sunspear Energy’s quality installations with Solar Insure’s long-term warranty protection gives businesses the confidence to invest in clean energy for the long haul,” said Dean Chiaravallotti, Chief Revenue Officer, Solar Insure.
The Benefits: More Energy, Greater Savings and Decades of Value
The newly re-powered system is projected to generate approximately 268,960 kWh—or 269 MWh—of clean electricity each year, averaging more than 22,000 kWh per month.
That increased production is expected to reduce Wholesale Unlimited’s utility bill by approximately 85%, generating more than $50,000 in estimated annual savings and approximately $1.5 million over a 30-year operating horizon, based on current project estimates and subject to actual production, electricity consumption and future utility rates.
The environmental impact is equally meaningful. The system is expected to prevent approximately 423,720 pounds—or 192.2 metric tons—of CO₂-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to removing approximately 42 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road for a year.
Just as importantly, the project demonstrates what may be possible for other Hawai‘i businesses with first-generation commercial solar systems. An aging array doesn’t necessarily mean starting over or abandoning the value of an earlier investment. With the right engineering approach, re-powering can extend the productive life of an existing solar asset while taking advantage of more advanced technology and potentially preserving valuable legacy energy programs.
For Wholesale Unlimited, the project continues a clean-energy commitment that began more than a decade ago—and complements a legacy of serving Hawai‘i that now spans more than 60 years.
“Sunspear has an exceptional team of highly skilled and genuinely committed professionals,” said Blayne Yamada, General Manager of Wholesale Unlimited. “Their ownership, communication, and dedication made a significant difference in the success of this project. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work and coordination that went into improving the sustainability and energy efficiency of our property.”
From preserving a valued NEM position to nearly doubling the nameplate power per panel, the Wholesale Unlimited project demonstrates how thoughtful solar re-powering can transform yesterday’s clean-energy investment into a high-performing asset built for the decades ahead.
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