Solar Opportunities - Hawaii

Solar Offerings and Incentives

Homeowners in Hawaii who install solar equipment are eligible for the state and federal incentives described below.

State and Local Incentives

Solar and Wind Energy Credit (Personal)

This personal tax credit returns 35% of the cost of equipment and installation of the solar thermal or solar photovoltaic system, and 20% of the cost of equipment and installation of a wind energy system. There are limits to these credits as well as eligibility requirements. For more information please click here.

GreenSun Hawaii  

 This is a state loan program that offers financing options for residents that would like to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. It applies to solar water heat and solar photovoltaic systems as well as a number of household appliances. For more information about this program please click here.

Green Infrastructure Bonds

 This is a state bond program that secures low-cost financing for clean energy installations including solar water heat, solar thermal electric, solar thermal process heat, and photovoltaic systems. For more information please click here.

City and County of Honolulu - Real Property Tax Exemption for Alternative Energy Improvements   

 The city and county of Honolulu allow a 100% exemption of the increased value of a property due to alternative energy improvements. This exemption lasts for 25 years. The solar technologies included are solar water heat, solar thermal electric, photovoltaic, and solar pool heating systems. For more information on eligibility and how to claim your tax exemption please visit http://www.realpropertyhonolulu.com/portal/rpadcms/Exemption?parent=FORMS&tree=forums&li=exemption and http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=HI28F&re=0&ee=0.

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

 A federal-level investment tax credit (ITC) is now available to consumers wanting to purchase small wind turbines, solar panels, or geothermal heat pumps.  The ITC, written into law through the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, is available for equipment installed from Oct. 3, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2016. The credit covers 30% of the equipment cost, though some technologies have a credit cap of $2000. More details and a complete list of eligible technologies can be found here.