Hawaiian Utilities Will Go All-Out On Renewables, Smart Grid
by Renew Grid on August 27, 2014
Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. and its Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc. and Maui Electric Co. Ltd. subsidiaries will be significantly boosting the amount of renewable energy that is integrated into the grid in the coming years, as well as implementing various smart grid strategies.
Central to the increase in renewable energy is utility support for rooftop solar installations. In fact, by 2030, Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light are planning to nearly triple the amount of distributed solar on its grid, prompted by "a clear, open planning process [that] will let customers and solar contractors know how much more solar can be added each year."
Also, grid enhancements will make the increased integration of solar power possible, and optimized control settings for solar equipment will improve safety and reduce the risk of power outages.
The utilities will also help expand use of energy storage systems, including batteries, to better integrate renewable energy and "address potential disruptions on electric grids caused by variable solar and wind power." For instance, Hawaiian Electric is evaluating proposals for energy storage projects on Oahu to be in service by early 2017, and energy storage projects are also in the works for Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Hawaii Island.
Another focus is the development of smart grid technologies. The utilities are proposing to complete the installation of smart grids in Maui County and on Hawaii Island by the end of 2017, and on Oahu by the end of 2018. Voluntary demand response programs will be a part of these rollouts.
renewgridmag.com
My comments:
This is almost too funny.
The people finally woke up.
There are "options" now.
Grid defection was finally scaring the utility to react.
Eric
$.38 per kwhr is absolutely nuts! |
