{"id":99625,"date":"2019-07-12T08:49:15","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T18:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=99625"},"modified":"2021-02-12T13:52:23","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T23:52:23","slug":"manoa-hnei-meco-photovoltaic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2019\/07\/12\/manoa-hnei-meco-photovoltaic\/","title":{"rendered":"More rooftop PV<\/abbr> on Moloka\u02bbi is focus of UH<\/abbr> collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Solar<\/p>\n

The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Natural Energy Institute<\/a> (HNEI<\/abbr>) at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa<\/a> and Maui Electric Co.<\/a> (MECO<\/abbr>) have collaborated to demonstrate a cost-effective solution that is allowing more rooftop photovoltaic (PV<\/abbr>) systems to be added to the Molokaʻi<\/span> grid.<\/p>\n

Thanks to U.S.<\/abbr> Office of Naval Research funding, HNEI<\/abbr> and MECO<\/abbr> have installed a practical and effective solution that removes one of the barriers to the integration of additional rooftop PV<\/abbr> on Molokaʻi<\/span>. In this work, a 750 kW<\/abbr> dynamic load bank connected to the island’s electrical grid can rapidly absorb excess energy that might occur during periods of high solar generation or unplanned system disruptions, such as a sudden loss of load on the grid. This easy-to-control dynamic “safety valve,” much lower in cost than battery storage, is providing the ability for the utility to accept up to an additional 725 kW<\/abbr> of rooftop PV<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“A small island power system like Molokaʻi<\/span> is very dynamic, and the high PV<\/abbr> penetration adds another level of complexity to managing those dynamics,” said Rick Rocheleau<\/strong>, HNEI<\/abbr> director. “This makes Molokaʻi<\/span> the perfect location to demonstrate advanced solutions for reliable operations of grids, in a state with some of the highest penetration levels of distributed solar generation in the world.”<\/p>\n

Added Chris Reynolds, director of system operations at MECO<\/abbr>, “Such partnerships with HNEI<\/abbr> are critical as we continue to work together to integrate more renewable energy on small stand-alone systems like on Molokaʻi<\/span>.<\/p>\n

More on the project<\/h2>\n

The dynamic load bank complements the HNEI<\/abbr>\/MECO<\/abbr> two-megawatt battery energy storage system commissioned at the utility’s Palaʻau<\/span> power plant in 2016.<\/p>\n

These projects are helping the utility to improve reliable operations on an island grid that has a large amount of renewable energy coming from rooftop solar systems. The installations are part of multi-pronged approach MECO<\/abbr> is taking to help Molokaʻi<\/span> reach the state’s 100 percent clean energy goal.<\/p>\n

The approach includes continuous outreach and discussions with the community; alternative financing possibilities through available tax credits and third-party grants or partnerships; innovative utility-sited solutions; and new customer options to prepare the Molokaʻi<\/span> grid to take on more renewable energy.<\/p>\n

For more information, go to the HNEI<\/abbr> website.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Natural Energy Institute Director Rick Rocheleau said the island is a perfect location to demonstrate advanced solutions for reliable operations of power grids.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[1359,294,1314,92,73,9],"class_list":["post-99625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-energy","tag-hawaii-natural-energy-institute","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-school-of-ocean-and-earth-science-and-technology","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t