Cohort 1: Honolulu, Hawaii

The City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, conducted microgrid location analyses for regional hybrid microgrids and map design with technical assistance from the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP).

A person who is sitting in a row of chairs speaks into a microphone, while another person kneeling in the row in front of him listens.
A community member (left) at the 'Ewa moku integrated grid planning and hybrid microgrid introduction meeting poses a question to the Hawaiian Electric and NREL panel with meeting facilitator Alani Apio (right). Photo from Kendal Leonard, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute

Project Summary

Population Size

995,638

Technology Focus

Microgrids

Lead Lab

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Regional Partner

Hawaii Natural Energy Institute

Hawaii is prone to severe weather conditions that have the potential to cause long-duration power outages. The island chain identified hybrid microgrids as one method to improve resilience. Microgrids are best suited to areas prone to prolonged outages during weather events, with clusters of customers and potential availability of renewable energy resources.

Under this project, Hawaiian Electric sought technical assistance through ETIPP to develop criteria for evaluating hybrid microgrids of less than 3 MW on the island of Oahu. Analyses of data provided by Hawaiian Electric, as well as data and models already being used by NREL and Sandia National Laboratories from prior work with Hawaiian Electric, were used to develop a map of potential hybrid microgrid clusters based on locationally specific site criteria.

Project Outcomes

The primary deliverable of the project was a map identifying potential locations given a set of criteria that stakeholders prioritized in the areas of criticality, vulnerability, and societal impact. The map is intended to guide developers to areas deemed suitable for further microgrid analysis and development.

Opportunities and Impacts

Hawaiian Electric hopes to use the map to reduce initial barriers and complexities of developing microgrids on Oahu. The map accounts for the technical and practical viability of microgrid development.

After the map was developed, the project team engaged the community to gather input, which included community meetings and workshops to "talk story" and listen to community feedback.

Additional Information

ETIPP and Microgrids, Hawaiian Electric (2024)

Hawaii Natural Energy Institute Research Highlights, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute Fact Sheet (2023)

Perspective Pivot: Mapping a Landscape of Voices in Oahu Changes Energy Planning, NREL News (2024)

Schatz: Kauai and Honolulu Selected To Participate in Energy Department Program Tto Help Transition to Resilient Clean Energy Solutions, U.S. Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz (2021)

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