Hawaii Microgrid

Hawaiian Electric, Solar Industry Eye Microgrids As A

A solar farm sits behind a fence in Waikoloa on Hawaii island. Utility executives say one of the biggest challenges to creating a microgrid in Hawaii is acquiring the necessary land for the...

What Are the Best Locations for Microgrids? Hawaii Is Mapping

Signaling Hawaii''s interest in microgrids, earlier this year the state established a microgrid tariff, which set rules around microgrids during emergency conditions. The tariff

Hawaii Powered

ETIPP & Microgrids. Last year, Hawaiian Electric was selected as partner in the U.S. Department of Energy''s (DOE) Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) to improve energy resilience and combat climate change. As

Hawaii Powered

As part of the partnership, Hawaiian Electric is helping to identify areas on O''ahu that are optimal for developing microgrids to build a more resilient electric grid. Hawaiian Electric hopes to reduce initial barriers and complexities with a map

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII

The Microgrid Resources Coalition (MRC) welcomes the opportunity to provide this opening brief and response to preliminary questions in the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (Commission)

Microgrids: A Different Way to Deliver Power

Microgrids provide increased resiliency through several means: by locating electricity generation close to the electrical users and needs they serve and by their ability to operate independently of the utility''s grid.

In Pro-Microgrid Move, Hawaii Becomes Second State

In what could be a model for other states, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a microgrid tariff for its major utilities. The decision is the culmination of a roughly two-year process, but the PUC is

Hawaii Microgrid [PDF]

6 FAQs about [Hawaii Microgrid]

Does Hawaii have a microgrid?

The utilities serve about 95% of Hawaii’s population. HECO’s tariff defines two types of microgrids: customer microgrids where all energy comes from utility sources and hybrid microgrids under which consumers supply at least some of their own power.

Will Hawaii get a microgrid tariff?

The Public Utilities Commission approved the microgrid services tariff last month, making Hawaiʻi second only to California, which approved a microgrid tariff in January. A microgrid – like a traditional, centralized electric grid – can generate, distribute, and regulate the supply of electricity to customers, but locally and on a smaller scale.

What is a microgrid & how can it help the Hawaiian Islands?

“The microgrids are tools for energy sustainability that will allow the Hawaiian Islands to address, adapt and recover from future disruptions to our island energy systems whether those occur from extreme weather, natural disasters like hurricanes or geopolitical events,” Akiba said.

Could a microgrid tariff be a model for other states?

Should Hawaii limit the deployment of hybrid microgrids?

The utilities wanted to limit total hybrid microgrids to 6 MW on Oahu, 1 MW on Maui, 1 MW on Hawaii Island, 0.5 MW on Moloka’i and 0.5 MW on Lana’i. “The companies have not shown a compelling reason to limit deployment of microgrids, and the commission finds no technical basis for a program cap,” the PUC said in its decision.

Will solar power power a microgrid in Lahaina?

Meanwhile, the leaders of Hawaii’s private-sector solar industry say they’re eager to help install renewable energy-powered microgrids in Lahaina as part of the rebuild. “We are ready and willing and monitoring the situation,” said Rocky Mould, president of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association.

Solar Pro.