Hawaiian Electric is committed to providing clean energy to Hawaii and reducing the reliance on imported oil. The company's goal is to achieve 100% renewable energy, and to do this, they have implemented demand response (DR) programs. These programs provide customers with incentives and price signals to modify their energy consumption, helping to stabilize costs. Hawaii has a wealth of renewable resources that can power a resilient grid.
To make use of these resources, Hawaiian Electric has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy suppliers. They are also providing technical support to the Molokai clean energy community in their planning process to develop a portfolio of clean energy projects that are respectful of Molokai's culture and environment. Customer distributed energy resources (DER) are smaller generators located throughout the power grid, such as private rooftop solar energy systems or battery storage systems installed in customers' homes and businesses. Hawaiian Electric is working to reduce initial barriers and complexities with a map that takes into account the technical and practical viability of microgrid development. The transition to renewable energy could also alleviate the energy burden borne by customers with low or moderate incomes. To address these issues, Hawaiian Electric is considering wind energy options both on the island and offshore, as well as strategies to plan for natural fluctuations in wind energy. Hawaiian Electric is the largest electric utility in the state, providing electricity to 95% of the residents of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Island of Hawaii.
The company is dedicated to ensuring that their renewable energy sources are cost-effective and respectful of local culture and environment.
