Hawaii smart grid toolkit

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Hawaii smart grid projects

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HEC's East Oahu switching project

Hawaiian Electric Company’s East Oahu switching project involves the installation of automation equipment for a key part of the utility’s distribution grid, coupled with upgrades to the control and communications platform for grid operators. The distribution automation involves upgrades in eastern Oahu near Honolulu, with eight of the company’s 146 overall substations receiving new SCADA equipment and software. A new automated switch for a 46-kV sub-transmission line, along with a communication and monitoring system, integrates the new automated distribution equipment with the existing grid. Projected benefits include more precise and timely response to outages, enhanced distribution system reliability, and the reduction of operations and maintenance costs. Get details >>

Speeding EV adoption and grid integration

Six organizations accelerating Hawaii's adoption of elective vehicles (EV) are sharing a $2.6 million award from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds through the DOE. The grantees included: 1) Better Place for charging stations on all islands and the introduction of EVs to a rental car fleet; 2) AeroVironment to install charging stations on all islands, conduct grid integration analysis, and accelerate EV introduction to dealerships and vehicle fleets; 3) GreenCar Hawai'i to introduce EVs to car-sharing services within the hospitality industry; 4) County of Kauai for charging stations and EVs for county fleets; 5) Honolulu for charging stations on Oahu, EVs, and an online charger permitting system, and 6) Plug In America for an EV Ready Guidebook for Hawaii, along with education and outreach. The matching grants are designed to contribute to the state's energy goal of 70% clean energy by 2030 by reducing consumption of imported petroleum fuels for ground transportation. Get details >>

Energy news and trends in Hawaii

Smart grid Hawaiian style: Silver Spring Networks heads to Maui

SGN reported last week that Maui is becoming something of a smart grid test bed with announcement of its second Japan-U.S. smart grid demonstration project in recent months. Now, Silver Spring Networks has been picked for yet another Maui initiative. Read more from Smart Grid News >>

Smart grid Hawaiian style: Silver Spring Networks heads to Maui

Smart grid networking platform and solutions provider Silver Spring Networks (SSN) announced it has been named to work with Maui Electric Company (MECO) and the Hawaii National Energy Institute (HNEI) on a smart grid project on the island. Read more from Smart Grid News >>

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Hawaii upgrading system to sell power to grid

After a slow start to a program allowing people to sell renewable energy to Hawaii's power grid, it's being revamped to attract more interest and reduce the state's dependence on imported oil. Read more from the Associated Press >>

U.S. Navy contracts for solar power

Three Hawaiian companies have been contracted by the U.S. Navy for power generation at military installations throughout the state. The contract from the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific was given to Island Pacific Energy LLC, Pacific Energy Solutions LLC, and Photon Finance LLC. Read more from UPI >>

State solar power efforts get federal cash

The U.S. Department of Energy is giving Hawaii more than $6.8 million in grants to fund two solar power projects. Some $6.1 million of the money is going to the University of Hawaii to develop and demonstrate two smart grid photovoltaic inverter devices. Read more from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser >>

Smart grid collaborations launched in Hawaii, Korea

Japan's Hitachi, Cyber Defense Institute, JFE Engineering Corporation, Sharp Corporation Hewlett Packard Japan and Mizuho Corporate Bank are working with Hawaii Electric Company, the Hawaiian state government, a university and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on a smart grid demonstration project. On Maui, about 15% of its electricity already comes from renewables and customers there pay a lot for power. Read more from Smart Grid News >>

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