The future of energy storage
Oct. 10, 2017
Our energy landscape is constantly changing and we are incorporating more renewable energy while maintaining reliable service for our customers remains a top priority. Energy storage technologies can help support this commitment to our customers.
Homeowners with rooftop solar are adding storage systems for back-up power and to save money. This is the first year that grid-tied residential energy storage systems outnumber new off-grid and grid-independent systems across the United States, according to the U.S. Residential Battery Storage Playbook 2017 by GTM Research.
The utility encourages energy storage to offset high solar levels on the grid at mid-day. At the Hawaiian Electric Companies, more than 17 grid-scale energy storage projects are underway or planned to help us transform our electrical system.
Stored energy can shift energy from when production exceeds demand to when it is needed during the evening peak. Stored electricity can also be used for “ramping,” that is, to fill in for variations in output from renewable sources like wind and solar. Finally, energy storage can smooth the flow of changing renewable output to the stable frequency needed by all our appliances and electric equipment that are made to run on a steady flow of 60 Hertz. All storage uses are valuable.
On Hawaii Island, the Hawi Battery Energy Storage Project (BESS), in partnership with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii, helps smooth the impact of variable wind energy on system frequency. On Oahu, similar solutions are being explored at our Campbell Industrial Park power plant. Learn more about how BESS projects can help us integrate more renewable energy like photovoltaics at the neighborhood or distribution circuit level by watching this video:
