The Sheraton Kauai Resort is going off the grid.

The Starwood-owned and operated property will be powered largely by two on-site diesel generators beginning next year, the company providing the service announced yesterday.

California-based BluePoint Energy Inc. said it will install two generators at the Sheraton Kauai that will provide the resort most of its electricity over a 10-year contract. The heat generated from the production of electricity also is turned into air conditioning and heating, which results in savings for the property, said BluePoint Energy CEO Guy A. Archbold.

"We basically take over the dominant portion of the power needs of the facility," he said, adding that the Kaua'i utility's electric grid would provide additional and backup power.

The two generators, each measuring roughly 6 feet by 12 feet, should be operational in about nine months, he said.

Sheraton Kauai Resort officials did not immediately have figures on expected cost savings from the new system, but said there were no upfront costs to the resort.

The Sheraton Kauai project is the second in Hawai'i for BluePoint, which is installing generators at Starwood Vacation Ownership's Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas on Maui, Archbold said. He said BluePoint is discussing similar contracts with other Hawai'i hotels.

John Lembo, senior director of energy at Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide Inc., said BluePoint's technology offers Starwood "an extremely efficient and reliable alternative to our power and energy needs."

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.