Maui Electric Company

Development of smart grid key to goal of green energy

WAILUKU - While experts say Maui, along with the rest of Hawaii, is becoming a key testing ground for the future of renewable industries, they also say the development of "smart grid" technology will be just as critical to building a green-energy infrastructure.

A smart grid is an electrical power grid that is built to adjust to the ebb and flow of energy sources that depend on wind, sun and other natural elements. Without developing a grid that can store power when the sun is shining - and draw from another source when it's cloudy - too much dependence on all these renewable sources could literally leave a lot of people in the dark, experts say.

A smart grid uses wireless technology, sophisticated software and a network of sensors in homes, power stations and transmission lines to instantaneously move electricity around where it's needed or kick in storage supplies when fluctuating renewable energy sources have sudden dips.

Speaking last week to local business leaders at the University of Hawaii Maui College, James Griffin of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute showed on a chart how the wind farm above Maalaea lost all outgoing electricity in seconds - and without any warning - when the wind died.

Griffin spoke at the Sustainable Institute of Maui at the college.

"Maui is already a leader, but the grid here is limited," he said. "Fluctuations for renewable energies is the reason for concern. As more renewables come online, the potential for problems increases.

"We are definitely breaking ground, though" he said.

Griffin said his upcoming project will be to develop a pilot smart grid project in Maui Meadows, installing at least 200 high-tech energy monitors in homes and on electrical infrastructure including transmission lines and power stations.

The two-year, $14 million project is being done in partnership with MECO and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Participating households will be able to view their electricity bills and energy-eater updates in real time on laptops and smart phones, while MECO will get new electricity-tracking and use-prediction software, Griffin said.

A widespread smart grid could also make the system two-way, so homes with solar panels and small wind turbines could sell power to MECO.

The project will last two years, he said.

For once, the Valley Isle's isolation and almost total dependence on foreign oil appears to be a plus, he said.

The state has mandated that Hawaii convert to 40 percent renewable energy sources and increase efficiency by 30 percent by 2030, noted his colleague Michael Chang.

PUC Approves Maui Electric, Sempra Generation Wind Energy Contract ...

By Sonia Isotov

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a 20-year contract for Maui Electric Company to purchase 21 megawatts (MW) of wind power from Sempra Generation’s Auwahi Wind project on the Ulupalakua Ranch.

The project, which still needs environmental review approvals from Maui County, State of Hawaii and federal agencies, is set to begin construction as early as 2012, according to a written statement released by Sempra Generation today.

Construction is expected to take about one year, and create approximately 150 construction jobs at peak and five full-time positions to operate the facility.

“Approval of this contract with Maui Electric Company is a major milestone for Sempra Generation as we continue working with local communities to develop Auwahi Wind,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, president and chief executive officer of Sempra Generation, in the statement. “We look forward to starting construction on this landmark wind project that will deliver a new supply of clean, renewable power to Maui residents and reduce the region’s reliance on volatile sources of imported energy.”

“We welcome approval of Sempra’s Auwahi project. It will help us reach Hawaii’s aggressive renewable energy goals and help keep historic Ulupalakua Ranch as a vital and successful partner in the Maui community,” said Ed Reinhardt, president of Maui Electric Company, in the statement as well. “This new wind farm will join existing wind power, biomass and biofuel, customer-sited solar, hydro and in the future we hope ocean energy to supply Maui with one of the highest percentages of renewable energy in Hawaii and the world,” Reinhardt said.  

When fully operational, Auwahi Wind will reportedly be capable of generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of 10,000 typical Maui homes.

An important component of Auwahi Wind is a battery storage unit capable of storing electricity generated by the project’s wind turbines during the typically windy morning and night hours.  This stored power will help to regulate and smooth intermittent wind power, providing a valuable source of grid stability for Maui Electric.

Final environmental impact statement, Maalaea-Lahaina third 69KV transmission line project : Maui Electric Company, Ltd

Draft environmental impact statement, Maalaea-Lahaina third 69KV transmission line project : Maui Electric Company, Ltd

The Almanac of American Employers 2009 (E-Book), Market Research, Statistics and Trends Pertaining to the Leading Corporate Employers in America

Inventory of Electric Utility Power Plants in the United States 1999 with Data as of January 1, 1999

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