Earthjustice and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council has recognized HECO utilities’ plans for their proactive approach to increased solar growth in Hawaii. Earlier this year HECO and clean energy stakeholders created a plan for additional system grid connections from photovoltaic (PV) installations. In it HECO has taken initiative to examine the surge in PV growth and how it will affect the utility circuits. Knowing these details enables them to see how grids will need to be upgraded to enable for planned expansion. This proactive approach is geared towards an ultimate goal of 100 percent of minimum load, to support all new renewable energy connections.
How will it work? The utilities will independently track and plan for future grid connections so it is ready for these increases and growth as they come up. This avoids any future potential delays or rejections that we have seen in the past. In other words, despite the growing amounts of PV installations across the island, HECO is continuing to find ways to accommodate its customers in their move towards clean energy usage.
“HECO’s proposed proactive approach puts Hawaiʻi on the cutting edge of accommodating high levels of solar energy on the utility grid,” said IREC’s attorney Tim Lindl.
As the growth of PV systems continues to rise over recent years HECO has correspondingly raised the circuit penetration limits to accommodate for these increases. These accommodations along with the successful implementation of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative have showcased Hawaii as a national trendsetter for renewable energy.
“This proactive approach to distributed solar is the next evolutionary step toward transforming the grid to enable homes and businesses to produce their own clean power,” said Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake. “We hope this new future-facing approach will provide a roadmap for other utilities to become more rooftop solar friendly.”
Island Pacific Energy 