Over the past few years, the state of Hawaii has one of the highest percentages of residences that have installed rooftop photovoltaic panels in the country. However, due to the boom in solar panels, the Hawaiian Electric Company's grid has not been able to accept them all. The problem lies in the fact that the amount of solar energy absorbed by the photovaltaic panels can vary dramatically day by day. This can create large swings in voltage and potentially damage electrical appliances and injure utility workers.
Hawaiian Electric Company has announced that they will be working with the Hawaii Natural Energy Insititute are working together to test a new battery technology that may increase the number of homes that can connect to the grid. The battery will act as a buffer on the circuit, and may be able to release additional power when output decreases as well as absorb power when solar energy spikes. Initially, HECO and HNEI will try out their new batteries on a few smaller neighborhoods in West Oahu and hopes to evaluate how well they work.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-5-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
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