Electrical Grid Systems

In connection with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, staff and students within Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) are working on technical and economic fronts to increase renewable energy electricity generation capacity and production in Hawai‘i.  Among the results of these efforts was the identification of potential negative impacts on Hawaiian island electricity grids from increases in certain renewable energy sources feeding into the grids. Over the past few years, grid studies and analyses have been conducted by staff and students to address these negative impacts and to formulate potential solutions in two solution areas: 1) use of renewable energy storage systems, and 2) implementation of smart grid technology.