Hawaii’s march toward cheaper, renewable energy sources is struggling with a bit of a bottleneck. No, it’s not the cost of rooftop solar installation for customers, it’s the number of installations that the grid can integrate. The good news is that Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) has recently proposed a new plan to increase the number of systems that can connect to the grid. If you’re looking for real estate in South Maui, you may have already noticed that rooftop solar is becoming prevalent. This makes a whole lot of sense, considering that we live in one of the sunniest places on the island, especially given the cost required to power a Maui home. Integrating more PV systems is an important step to reducing energy bills, assuming they can do so with stability and safety.
The plan will accommodate more than double the current threshold for neighborhood circuits. Specifically, it will allow a jump from 120 percent of daytime minimum load to 250 percent. To do this safely, HECO will implement new performance standards that were established via the results of their study with SolarCity and the Electric Power Research Institute. The study involved solar inverter performance testing. Basically, inverters convert power from the solar panels into a form of electricity that can be used by the plugs in homes.HECO will implement new performance standards that were established via the results of their study with SolarCity and the Electric Power Research Institute. The study involved solar inverter performance testing. Basically, inverters convert power from the solar panels into a form of electricity that can be used by the plugs in homes.
Numerous improvements are expected as these standards are raised, including a lower risk of outages, damage to electronics in customers’ homes and utility equipment on the grid, and safety hazards for electrical line workers.
To enhance stability of renewable integration, HECO is also planning several pilot projects focusing on solar battery systems with local and national PV companies here in Hawaii.
All these efforts are part of HECO’s clean energy plan to lower electric bills by 20 percent by increasing renewables to 65 percent of the total share of Hawaii’s energy. As for customer savings, many residents are still waiting to see, rather than believe. Implementing more renewable energy requires infrastructure changes, and that transition comes with its own cost. We won’t truly know whether electric bills will drop until HECO’s clean energy plan to lower electric bills by 20 percent by increasing renewables to 65 percent of the total share of Hawaii’s energy. As for customer savings, many residents are still waiting to see, rather than believe. Implementing more renewable energy requires infrastructure changes, and that transition comes with its own cost. We won’t truly know whether electric bills will drop until HECO clears that hurdle, but here’s hoping for the best.
Mahalo for reading this week!
