Hawai‘i Electric Light announces that Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawai‘i Electric Light companies are among utility companies that led the nation in connecting energy storage to their grids in 2017, earning top spots on the annual Top 10 utility industry lists compiled by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA).
Maui Electric ranked third in energy storage with an accumulated 36.5 watts percustomer and ninth in annual energy storage megawatts added in 2017 at 2.6 MW
Hawai‘i Electric Light ranked seventh at 16.4 watts per customer of energy storage
Hawaiian Electric ranked tenth in annual energy storage megawatts added with 2.2 MW
In addition, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative led the nation with a total 415.3 watts per customer and was fifth in annual megawatts added in 2017 with 13.7MW.
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Awards are given in four categories: Top 10 utilities for most new solar megawatts and most new watts per customer, and Top 10 utilities for most new storage megawatts and most accumulated storage watts per customer. Winners in all categories were recognized at SEPA’s Utility Conference, this year being held in Rancho Mirage, California.
Historically, utilities in Hawai‘i have been in the vanguard, among the top utilities for solar watts added or solar watts per customer. Other utilities are now experiencing higher levels of private-rooftop and grid-scale solar and Hawai‘i electric utilities are leading in the next stage of clean energy evolution, that is, energy storage at customer sites or in grid-scale projects often attached to wind and solar projects.
The 11th annual survey collected figures from more than 400 utilities across the country on solar, energy storage and demand response connected to the grid in 2017 and since 2007 for solar.
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“This year’s Top 10 lists reflect a pivotal moment in the U.S. energy transition, as utilities increasingly focus on solar and storage as distributed resources providing value to customers and the grid,” said Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA. “Beyond their impressive numbers, Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawai‘i Electric Light embody a strong model for innovation and leadership that utilities across the country will continue to build on as we move toward a clean, smart and resilient energy future.”
About SEPA
The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is an educational nonprofit working to facilitate the utility industry’s transition to a clean energy future through education, research, standards and collaboration. SEPA offers a range of research initiatives and resources, as well as conferences, educational events and professional networking opportunities. SEPA is founder and co-sponsor of Solar Power International and winner of the Keystone Policy Center’s 2016 Leadership in Energy Award. For more information, visit www.sepapower.org.
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