27 percent renewables in 2018, 30 percent in 2020

by Shannon Tangonan | Mar. 12, 2019

The Hawaiian Electric Companies reached a consolidated 27 percent renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in 2018 as we continue to stride towards a 100% clean renewable energy future in 2045.

The next major milestone in the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ path toward 100 percent renewables by 2045 is right around the corner: 30 percent by 2020.

The companies — Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric — achieved of a consolidated 27 percent renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in 2018. The 2018 consolidated RPS remained the same percentage as it was in 2017.

Your initial reaction might be: “What’s the big deal? The percentage didn’t go up.” But we can’t forget what took place last year. Hawaii Island lost its geothermal resource for most of 2018 following the Kilauea volcanic eruption in May. The fact that we didn’t lose ground last year is a major accomplishment.

Lava was a major factor in disrupting PGV daily operations. Yet, we were able to maintain a steady 27 percent RPS at the end of 2018.

Had Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) produced at the same level as 2017, that consolidated figure would have been 29 percent. Twenty-nine percent! And here’s the kicker: the consolidated 27 percent RPS in 2018 is up from just 9 percent a decade ago.

The 2018 RPS for Hawaii Island was at 44 percent, down from 57 percent in 2017; it would have reached 64 percent if PGV was online for the full year. Maui recorded 38 percent, up from 34 in 2017, and Oahu was at 22 percent, up from 21 percent the previous year.

And we’re not standing still when it comes to adding more renewables to our island grids. In the pipeline are eight solar-plus-storage projects on Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui. Power purchase agreements for these projects were filed with regulators within the last three months, laying the foundation for the largest surge in renewable energy in state history.

A more diverse mix of renewables will help increase our grid’s resiliency when other sources go offline.

The loss of PGV last year reinforced the need for a diverse mix of renewables. We simply cannot put all of our eggs into one basket as we build a strong renewables portfolio.

Yes, there’s much more work to be done to achieve a 100 percent renewable future for Hawaii — but we can get there by working together. Our customers and communities should feel good about the progress we’ve made and the path we’re taking toward a clean energy future.

Shannon Tangonan is a manager of external corporate communications at Hawaiian Electric Company.