Hawaii

Postcards from Hawaii: Lessons on Grid Transformation

Hawaiian utility experts describe the islands’ fast-growing solar market as a postcard from the future

The group spent four days immersed in Hawaii’s dynamic solar market, listening and learning from the experiences of utility executives, policy makers, solar and clean tech players.

Nextera Energy Resources to Build, Own and Operate Solar Energy Systems for U.S. Navy

NextEra Energy Resources is planning a project to build, own and operate approximately 17 MW of solar facilities on three separate military installations on Oahu. A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will build one ground-mounted fixed-tilt solar system, three carport solar systems and 10 rooftop solar systems. The systems will be comprised of approximately 71,000 Sharp solar modules. Site preparation is underway, and system construction is expected to begin in February 2016 and be completed by year end.

Solar at High Noon

Surplus generation at mid-day calls for long-duration energy storage.

Utility execs and PUCs should plan now to handle extensive solar penetration, including the significant overgeneration that can occur at mid-day.

Rooftop Solar 2.0

Hawaii and California grapple over net energy metering.

While the underlying questions in each state regarding net energy metering are much the same, the two PUC's will approach the issue from different perspectives.

Energy Department Invests Over $10 Million to Improve Grid Reliability and Resiliency

The Energy Department announced more than $10 million for projects to improve the reliability and resiliency of the U.S. electric grid and facilitate quick and effective response to grid conditions. This investment which includes six projects across five states- California, Hawaii, Missouri, North Carolina and Washington - will help further the deployment of advanced software that works with synchrophasor technology to better detect quickly-changing grid conditions and improve grid reliability.

Catching Fire

Climate policy heats up after the Great Recession.

GHG rules are coming soon. What happens next will depend on how states react.

Dealing With the Duck

Designing markets to accommodate variable resources.

Growth in variable resources creates an increasing need for demand response and fast-ramping generation. The right market design can bring both.

Sempra and BP Dedicate Wind Project in Hawaii

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, BP Wind Energy and community leaders dedicated the new Auwahi wind facility on Ulupalakua Ranch in Hawaii. The 21-MW Auwahi Wind facility is BP and Sempra’s first alternative energy venture in Hawaii. The project features a 4.4-MWh grid battery system, which at its peak, can sustain 11 MW of capacity for approximately 25 minutes. The battery system helps regulate and sustain power to Maui Electric Co.’s grid during light wind conditions.