Hawaiian Electric Companies reports more than 100 megawatts of solar installed across its service territories in 2017
The Hawaiian Electric Companies recently announced that more than 100 megawatts (MW) of solar were installed across their service territories in 2017, a 19 percent surge from the previous year and the largest increase in five years.
Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawaii Electric Light reported 695 MW of cumulative installed solar at the end of 2017 including 82,000 connected or approved private rooftop solar systems, and the new 27.6-MW Waianae solar facility.
By the end of 2017, 20 percent of residential customers at Hawaiian Electric and Maui Electric had rooftop solar installed or approved for installation, an increase from 19 percent at both companies in 2016. 16 percent of Hawaii Electric Light’s residential customers have solar installed or approved, the same proportion as in 2016.
“We ended 2017 with the largest year-to-year increase of installed solar since 2013 and we anticipate even higher numbers by the end of this year,” Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of customer service, said. “We’re excited about new solar programs on the horizon such as Smart Export and CGS+, community-based renewable energy and new grid-scale projects underway on Oahu and Maui. And we continue to improve and streamline the rooftop solar application process for our customers.”
Six solar projects on Oahu and Maui totaling 135 MW are scheduled to come online this year, including Hawaiian Electric’s 20 MW solar facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
