Hawaiian Electric has reached a historic milestone, with the combined capacity of customer-sited rooftop solar and battery storage exceeding 1 gigawatt on its grids, as announced in a recent Maui Now article. This is a significant step towards Hawaii's clean energy goals, demonstrating the state's commitment to renewable energy sources. The achievement represents the equivalent of powering approximately 100 million LED lightbulbs.
The growth of rooftop solar and battery storage has been substantial in recent years. As of December 31, 2021, Hawaiian Electric had integrated a total of 1,019 megawatts of solar capacity across its grids. According to the same source, this includes both grid-scale facilities and private rooftop systems. The company is actively working to cut carbon emissions from power generation by 70% by 2030.
This milestone has substantial implications for businesses and investors in Hawaii's energy sector. The increasing adoption of solar and storage creates opportunities for companies specializing in installation, maintenance, and financing of renewable energy systems. Moreover, it supports the growth of related industries, such as energy storage solutions and smart grid technologies. The Hawaii Solar Energy Association noted that local action in the form of rooftop solar and storage can deliver affordable clean energy and resilience.
The increase in rooftop solar has been considerable. A recent analysis by Spectrum News indicated that Hawaiian Electric is celebrating a significant increase in the number of rooftop solar systems connected to its grid, with systems reaching 114,000 across the five islands the company serves. Further, Hawaiian Electric has stated that customer-sited solar and battery storage is a priority in achieving Hawaii’s decarbonization and clean energy targets.
With the increasing solar penetration, the company is committed to processing applications as quickly as possible to help customers who want to install and energize their systems by the end of the year.
