Suntech Hawaii said it recently installed a 223-kilowatt photovoltaic solar electric power system installation at D. Otani Produce in Kalihi.

The 1,275-panel solar system took seven weeks to install and will generate enough electricity to power nearly 40 homes for a year, according to a news release from Suntech. The system became operational last week.

"We rely heavily on electricity because we have a one-acre refrigeration system that keeps our produce fresh," said Dwight Otani, D. Otani Produce founder and owner. "Unfortunately, with the rising cost of oil, our electricity bill more than doubled since 2006 so we needed to do something quickly that would help us to reduce our electricity bill."

The new system will reduce the company's monthly electricity bill by approximately 20 percent, Otani said.