Solar power in Hawaii explained

The energy sector in Hawaii has rapidly adopted solar power due to the high costs of electricity, and good solar resources, and has one of the highest per capita rates of solar power in the United States.[1] Hawaii's imported energy costs, mostly for imported petroleum and coal, are three to four times higher[2] than the mainland, so Hawaii has motivation to become one of the highest users of solar energy. Hawaii was the first state in the United States to reach grid parity for photovoltaics. Its tropical location provides abundant ambient energy.

Much of Hawaii's solar capacity is distributed solar panels on individual homes and businesses. Hawaii's grid has had to deal with this unique situation by developing new technology for balancing the energy flows in areas with large amounts of solar power. In 2023, distributed solar produced 1,408 GWh while utility-scale solar produced 643 GWh. Hawaii had 1,808 MW of installed solar capacity in 2023. The largest utility-scale solar farm in Hawaii is the 60 MW Kuihelani Solar on Maui, which open in 2024 and includes 240 MWhr of battery storage[3] As of 2024, solar power produced 19.5% of Hawaii's electricity.

History

Hawaii has a renewable portfolio standard of 40% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2045.[4] Hawaii had almost 200 MW of grid-connected photovoltaics in 2012. 16 MW of PV were installed in 2010, 40 MW in 2011, and 109 MW in 2012.[5] [6]

The electrical grids of the Hawaiian islands are each separate and relatively small. "Overbuilding" distributed solar in some areas has led to issues such as partial duck curve, although time-of-use pricing has reduced disadvantages.[7] Such overbuilding led the Hawaiian Electrical Company (HECO) to stop its net metering program, which reimbursed solar consumers generously for the excess electricity they exported back to the grid, in 2015.[8] As a result, residential solar installations fell as homeowners could no longer justify the costs because the payback time of the rooftop solar system made it cost-prohibitive.[9] Two successor programs - customer grid supply (CGS) and customer self-supply - have proved less successful than net-metering did in promoting the growth of the industry.[10] HECO has made connecting to the grid more difficult, leading to layoffs among the solar installation industry.[11] In 2014, there were over 40,000 rooftop systems, over 10 percent of customers.[12] A proposed grid interconnection between Oahu and Maui would have allowed more renewable energy but was rejected as too costly.[13] By 2022, nearly a third of single family homes have solar panels.

HECO has limited homeowners' ability to install solar and connect to the grid. As of 2022, the only program available for private systems to supply power to the grid, Customer Grid Supply Plus, has limited capacity and requires inverters that meet HECO specifications. Approved inverters must allow the company to remotely turn off power transmission to the grid as needed.[14] The utility has gone full steam ahead with its own plans to build utility-scale solar, approving 110 MW on July 27, 2017.[15]

Cyanotech has a 0.5 MW solar array on its algae farm at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii.[16]

In October, 2018, Hawaii Electric Companies announced they were negotiating contracts on 7 new solar farms to total 260 MW, each incorporating 4 hours of battery storage:[17] These would be three projects on Oahu, two projects on Maui and two projects on Hawaii. In March 2019, six projects (totalling 247 MW and almost 1 GWh of battery storage) were approved, priced at 8-10c/kWh.[18]

Sunrun is establishing a virtual power plant on Oahu which would use the energy stored in 1000 batteries located in individual houses with rooftop solar panels to deliver power in times of high energy demand on the grid. This system is expected to be online in 2020.[19] These types of services provide not only additional power to the power grid but also add grid stability.

Kauai

Kauai has rapidly adopted solar. In 2009, oil provided 91% of the island's electricity. In 2015, solar provided 15% with other renewables providing another 22% with oil providing 63%.[20] Diesel usage was expected to be reduced by 10abbr=offNaNabbr=off in 2016 compared to 2008. On some days in 2016, solar power provided 77% of the electricity generation on Kauai.[21]

When it opened on November 2, 2015 on Kauai, the 12MW Anahola project was the largest solar project in Hawaii. It has 59,000 panels on 60acres of land and is expected to supply up to 20% of the island's momentary electricity demand and up to 5% of the annual demand.[22] The Anahola project also incorporates a 6MW lithium-ion battery.[23] [24] The 12 MW Kapaia solar plant is connected to a 13 MW / 52 MWh battery,[25] [26] and the power is priced at 13.9 c/kWh.[27] A 2018 project for 28 MW solar with 20 MW / 100 MWh batteries is priced at 11 c/kWh.[28] A 44MW solar farm with batteries to be completed in 2019 will bring the island to 70% renewable electricity while a pumped-storage hydro facility is under consideration which could bring the island to 90% renewable by 2023.

Statistics

In 2012 a typical solar system in Hawaii paid for itself in only 4 years, and returned a profit of over 4 times the cost over its life.[29] Hawaii's 35% ($5000.00 Maximum) state tax credit is the second highest in the country, behind Louisiana.[30] Hawaii offers a feed-in tariff, but it does not meet the normal definition of a feed-in tariff, as it is less than the retail cost of electricity, and is therefore simply a Power Purchase Agreement. The Oahu Wind Integration Study[31] released a report detailing the impact on the Oahu grid and found that 500 MW of wind and 100 MW of solar power could provide Oahu up to 25% of its electricity while eliminating the need to burn approximately 2.8 million barrels of low sulfur fuel oil and 132,000 tons of coal each year.[32]

In 2010 Hawaii generated 56 GWh of energy by photovoltaics; this had risen to 2051 GWh in 2023.[33]

Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40]
YearCapacityInstalled% Change
2007 4.5 2.9 181%
2008 13.5 8.6 200%
2009 26.2 12.7 94%
2010 44.7 18.5 71%
2011 85.2 40.5 91%
2012 200 114 134%
2013 358 159 80%
2014 447 151 25%
2015 564 117 26%
2016 674 110 20%
2017 819 145 21.5%
2018 944 125 15.2%
2019 1,311.7 367.7 38.8%
2020 1,413.2 101.5 7.7%
2021 1,468.2 55 3.8%
2022 1,560 91.8 6.3%
2023 1,808 248 15.9%

This was only 0.07% of the state's total electricity generation in 2007 but had risen to 19.5% by 2024.[41] [42] [43]

Utility Scale Solar Generation in Hawaii (GWh)[44] !Year!Total!Jan!Feb!Mar!Apr!May!Jun!Jul!Aug!Sep!Oct!Nov!Dec
201555234555576544
20168837668810109876
20171748915141919181816151211
2018185131214151820181816161312
2019267131418222222232326293025
2020483243034434947464950403536
2021520343239485354505048433930
2022556384145433948486254544737
2023643423547495966687064594440
Small Scale Solar Generation in Hawaii (GWh)!Year!Total!Jan!Feb!Mar!Apr!May!Jun!Jul!Aug!Sep!Oct!Nov!Dec
2015633424351555959616056534648
2016760525462667171727367635455
2017971696781859291949285786869
20181,029747186909698999689837374
20191,1117876929810410010910697927980
20201,210848799107114113115115106978687
20211,27392901071151221221231201091009182
20221,32997951121171251251271251141069393
20231,4089895115120132131132136124118104103

Major solar installations in Hawaii

Projects under development

Canceled projects

Source:[94] [95]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Hit Hard by High Energy Costs, Hawaii Looks to the Sun. Ivan Penn. Ruth Fremson. The New York Times. May 30, 2022.
  2. Web site: PUC issues interim decision in Hawaiian Electric rate case. https://web.archive.org/web/20111016113553/http://www.heco.com/vcmcontent/StaticFiles/pdf/2011_HECO_Interim.pdf. dead. October 16, 2011.
  3. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/06/10/breaking-news/aes-hawaii-begins-operations-of-mauis-largest-solar-facility/ AES Hawai‘i begins operations of the state’s largest solar facility
  4. http://khon2.com/2015/06/08/new-law-requires-100-percent-renewable-energy-in-hawaii-by-2045/ New law requires 100-percent renewable energy in Hawaii by 2045
  5. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Insight Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20120418122702/http://www.slideshare.net/SEIA/us-solar-market-insight-report. dead. April 18, 2012.
  6. Web site: 2014 Top 10 Solar States.
  7. Web site: The Duck is learning to fly in California and Hawaii. Jim . Lazar . 8 August 2016. Utility Dive. 29 October 2016.
  8. Web site: End of Hawaii's Solar Credit Program Spells Trouble for Industry. www.governing.com. en. 2017-07-31.
  9. News: Rooftop Solar in Oahu Crashes With Loss of Net Metering, Lack of Self-Supply Installs. 2017-07-31.
  10. Web site: HECO sees significant uptick in self-supply applications. pv magazine USA. 2017-07-31.
  11. http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/26598892/pv-industry-struggles-following-heco-rule HECO rule pulled the plug on PV jobs
  12. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/A-Solar-Permit-Slowdown-is-Chilling-Oahus-Installer-Market A Solar Permit Slowdown Is Chilling Oahu's Installer Market
  13. http://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/HonStarAd_LinkingIsles_1.22.14.pdf Linking isles' energy grids will save money, state says
  14. Web site: Customer Grid-Supply Plus. www.hawaiianelectric.com.
  15. Web site: Hawaii approves contracts for 110 MW-AC of utility-scale solar. pv magazine USA. 2017-07-31.
  16. https://energy.ehawaii.gov/epd/public/energy-project-details.html?rid=ed-6611d1f3b2a26f11 Cyanotech Solar Array
  17. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/hawaiian-electric-plans-7-solarstorage-projects-adding-260-mw-solar/539410/ Hawaiian Electric plans 7 solar+storage projects, adding 260 MW solar
  18. Web site: Hill . Joshua S . Hawaii approves six low-priced solar and battery storage projects . RenewEconomy . 2 April 2019 . en-AU . 1 April 2019.
  19. https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/09/sunrun-solar-plus-storage-virtual-power-plant-hawaii/ Sunrun makes solar-plus-storage virtual power plant deal with Hawaiian Electric
  20. http://www.utilitydive.com/news/inside-the-first-fully-dispatchable-utility-solar-storage-project-in-hawaii/408208/ Inside the first fully dispatchable utility solar-storage project in Hawaii
  21. http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2016/12/07/utility-lowers-rates-by-nearly-20-in-2016.html Utility lowers rates by nearly 20% in 2016
  22. http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/30466779/anahola-solar-array-set-to-generate-20-percent-of-kauais-electricity Anahola Solar Array set to generate 20% of Kauai's electricity
  23. Web site: REC Solar & KIUC Connect Hawaii’s Largest Solar Project. Estelle. Soria. November 2, 2015.
  24. http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/hawaii Hawaii Solar
  25. Web site: SolarCity selects Tesla batteries for Kauai solar+storage project. February 18, 2016. Utility Dive. October 29, 2016.
  26. Web site: Tesla launches its Powerpack 2 project in Hawaii, will help Island of Kauai get more out of its solar power. March 8, 2017. March 8, 2017.
  27. Web site: SolarCity Selects Battery System for Kauaʻi Co-op Solar Storage Project.
  28. Web site: AES’ New Kauai Solar-Storage ‘Peaker’ Shows How Fast Battery Costs Are Falling. January 16, 2017. January 24, 2017.
  29. Web site: Guide to Hawaii incentives & tax credits in 2022. www.solarreviews.com.
  30. Web site: Isles power up in solar rankings. https://archive.today/20130415004054/http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/imported-20101004182628/2011/6/10/isles-power-up-in-solar-rankings.html. dead. April 15, 2013.
  31. Web site: Oahu Wind Integration Study. https://web.archive.org/web/20110516004950/http://www.hnei.hawaii.edu/PDFs/Oahu_Wind_Integration_Study.pdf. dead. May 16, 2011.
  32. Web site: Hawaii Study: Wind and Solar Can Reliably Supply 25% of Oahu's Electricity Needs. March 23, 2011. Solar Hawaii.
  33. Web site: Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures May 2015.
  34. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). July 2014. 2014-07-27.
  35. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012 . PDF . Sherwood . Larry . Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) . July 2013 . 16 . 2013-10-11.
  36. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). August 2012. 2012-08-16. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120906231846/http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/IRECSolarMarketTrends-2012-web.pdf. 2012-09-06.
  37. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). June 2011. 2011-06-29.
  38. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009. Sherwood, Larry. Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). July 2010. 2010-07-28. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100925184512/http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IREC-Solar-Market-Trends-Report-2010_7-27-10_web1.pdf. 2010-09-25.
  39. Web site: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008 . Sherwood . Larry . Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) . July 2009 . 2010-07-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091123030109/http://www.irecusa.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NationalOutreachDocs/SolarTrendsReports/IREC_Solar_Market_Trends_Report_2008.pdf . 2009-11-23 .
  40. Web site: Hawaii Solar. SEIA.
  41. Web site: Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures November 2013.
  42. Web site: Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures November 2014.
  43. Web site: Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures November 2015.
  44. Web site: Electricity Data Browser . 2022-07-30 . www.eia.gov.
  45. Web site: DuPont Cuts Ribbon on Hawaii Solar Panel Project. Paul. Nastu. January 30, 2009.
  46. Web site: The Solar Power World Top 250: The Top Solar Contractors In Hawaii. October 1, 2013. Solar Power World.
  47. Web site: Hawaii News. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  48. Web site: Lanai Solar Farm Generating 1.5 MW | The Molokai Dispatch. April 27, 2012. themolokaidispatch.com.
  49. News: Castle & Cooke's Lanai solar farm getting battery boost . 14 September 2010.
  50. Web site: Maui Now: La Ola Solar Farm Now Operating at Full Capacity. Maui Now | Hawaii News | La Ola Solar Farm Now Operating at Full Capacity.
  51. Web site: REC Solar & KIUC Break Ground on 12 MW Anahola Solar Array | Commercial Solar Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20120531131918/http://recsolar.com/sites/default/files/Kapaa%20Solar_FINAL.pdf. dead. May 31, 2012.
  52. Web site: New Kauai solar farm could power 300 homes.
  53. http://news.enf.cn/en/news/news_18441.html Large Solar Farm in Hawaii Opens on Kaua'i Island
  54. http://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/EnergyFactsFigures_Jan2013.pdf Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures January 2013
  55. Web site: Alexander & Baldwin completes 6MW PV plant on Kauai island. PV Tech.
  56. https://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/FF_Nov2016.pdf Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures
  57. Web site: Five-Megawatt Kalaeloa Solar Farm Now Generating Power on Oahu. March 9, 2013. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
  58. Web site: Kalaeloa Renewable Energy Park.
  59. http://www.recsolar.com/press-release/rec-solar-and-kiuc-connect-hawaiis-largest-solar-project REC Solar and KIUC Connect Hawaii's Largest Solar Project
  60. http://khon2.com/2014/09/25/kauai-dedicates-its-koloa-solar-project/ Kauai dedicates its Koloa solar project
  61. http://solarindustrymag.com/hawaii-gas-dedicates-oahus-biggest-active-solar-farm Hawaii Gas Dedicates Oahu's Biggest Active Solar Farm
  62. Web site: Hawaiian Electric sends six more Oahu solar contracts to Public Utilities Commission for approval.
  63. http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/01/25/breaking-news/hawaiis-largest-solar-farm-goes-online-in-waianae/ Hawaii's largest solar farm goes online in Waianae
  64. http://www.utilitydive.com/news/teslas-dispatchable-solarstorage-project-in-hawaii-brought-online/437858/ Tesla's dispatchable solar+storage project in Hawaii brought online
  65. http://www.hookelenews.com/navy-celebrates-completion-of-waipio-solar-facility/ Navy celebrates completion of Waipio solar facility
  66. https://eponline.com/articles/2016/07/25/hawaii-solar-farm.aspx?admgarea=ht.energyclimatechange Navy, Hawaiian Electric Agree to Build Solar Farm
  67. https://energy.ehawaii.gov/epd/public/energy-project-details.html?rid=11d--6d8a4789d178c2a Aloha Solar Energy Fund I Solar Project
  68. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_6_03 Table 6.3. New Utility Scale Generating Units by Operating Company, Plant, and Month, 2018
  69. http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2016/02/23/hawaii-regulators-approve-large-maui-solar-farm.html Hawaii regulators approve large Maui solar farm
  70. http://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2018/10/2-more-large-scale-solar-projects-for-maui-in-contract-talks/ 2 more large-scale solar projects for Maui in contract talks
  71. http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/01/09/land-that-once-grew-sugar-cane-now-provides-renewable-energy-kauai/ Land that once grew sugar cane now provides renewable energy for Kauai
  72. https://www.pv-tech.org/news/aes-and-kiuc-break-ground-on-hawaiis-largest-solar-plus-storage-system AES and KIUC break ground on Hawaii's largest solar-plus-storage system
  73. https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/documents/about_us/news/2019/20191125_west_loch_solar_project_news_release.pdf Hawaiian Electric, U.S. Navy dedicate West Loch Solar Project
  74. https://www.clearwayhawaii.com/operational-projects-2/lanikuhana-solar Lanikuhana Solar
  75. https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/nrg-and-hawaiian-electric-reach-new-power-purchase-agreements-to-revive-major-solar-projects-on-oahu RG and Hawaiian Electric Reach New Power Purchase Agreements to Revive Major Solar Projects on Oahu
  76. https://www.power-eng.com/2019/09/11/three-hawaiian-solar-projects-totaling/#gref Three Hawaiian solar projects push state closer to renewable goals
  77. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/09/17/first-community-solar-project-planned-mililani-area/ First community solar project planned for Mililani area
  78. http://www.utilitydive.com/news/navy-developing-44-mw-solarstorage-facility-on-kauai/435984/ Navy developing 44 MW solar+storage facility on Kauai
  79. https://www.nrel.gov/news/features/2021/us-navy-kiuc-aes-and-nrel-innovate-and-collaborate-for-resilience-and-cost-effective-clean-energy-project-on-kauai.html U.S. Navy, KIUC, AES, and NREL Innovate and Collaborate for Resilience and Cost-Effective Clean Energy Project on Kauai
  80. https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/08/clearway-completes-39-mw-solar-156-mwh-storage-project-on-oahu/ Clearway completes 39-MW solar, 156-MWh storage project on O’ahu
  81. Web site: Colthorpe . Andy . 4 January 2023 . Hawaii Island’s biggest solar-plus-storage plant will soon deliver power at 9 cents/kWh . Energy Storage News.
  82. https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/documents/about_us/company_facts/power_facts.pdf Power Facts
  83. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/06/10/breaking-news/aes-hawaii-begins-operations-of-mauis-largest-solar-facility/ AES Hawai‘i begins operations of the state’s largest solar facility
  84. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/environment/2023/01/13/two-new-community-owned-solar-projects-coming-to-molokai Two new community-owned solar projects coming to Molokai
  85. https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/our-clean-energy-portfolio/renewable-project-status-board Renewable Project Status Board
  86. https://www.power-grid.com/renewable-energy/off-again-on-again-microgrid-puts-a-hawaiian-solar-project-on-hold-again/#gref Off-again, on-again microgrid puts a Hawaiian solar project on hold… again
  87. Web site: New solar project could mean lower electric bills for Molokai residents. Olivia. Peterkin. hawaiinewsnow.com.
  88. http://www.civilbeat.com/2015/02/mapping-oahus-solar-farms/ Eight Industrial-Sized Solar Farms in the Works
  89. http://www.castlecooke.net/property/details.aspx?rid=96&cat=Future+Development Lana'i - Going Green
  90. Web site: Castle & Cooke gets waiver for solar farm.
  91. Web site: Sustainable Future.
  92. Web site: Hawaii's biggest solar farm proposed for Mililani fields | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper. the.honoluluadvertiser.com.
  93. Web site: Hawaii Renewable Energy Projects. test-energy.ehawaii.gov.
  94. Web site: Renewable Energy Projects in Hawaii.
  95. Web site: Vital Stats on the Biggest Solar Project in Hawaii Greentech Media.

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