The National Tropical Botanical Garden will power its new Juliet Rice Wichman Botanical Research Center building with photovoltaic power.

The garden has contracted with GreenSource Solutions to install 80 solar photovoltaic panels built by Open Energy Corp. Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawai'i will assist in installation.

The SP450 roofing module system is designed to produce a total of 36 kilowatts in full sun.

"As an organization dedicated to the conservation of our earth's natural resources, the NTBG is very excited about the photovoltaic roof," said garden director Chipper Wichman.