Comments on: Oʻahu Could Supply 25% of Its Electricity Demand from Onshore Wind & Solar Energy

By: Jay Banks

Jay Banks — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:46:23 +0000

Every country has specific possibilities of using alternative energy sources. I assume that priority of many people will be energy prices that can highlight certain source of energy in their neighbourhood. These localities with better usage of lower cost of energy sources can be better valued for real estate prices and other living cost so it may bring more people to stay in that area.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:01:45 +0000

Good points, Bob. Thanks for adding them

By: Matthew Shapiro

Matthew Shapiro — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:01:47 +0000

It is unfortunate that the study didn’t have the budget to look at how storage might play a role. Gridflex Energy’s Lanai Pumped Storage project announced last year would make a huge difference, turning the 400 MW of wind from Lanai and Molokai into firm capacity. Under the current strategy, the old oil-fired generators will be ramped up and down to help absorb the wind, which will increase their operating costs and decrease their efficiency. Not to mention that the firm capacity base would be eroded in the current strategy, while with Lanai Pumped Storage, new capacity is created.

By: Bob Wallace

Bob Wallace — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:37:03 +0000

Wind and solar could provide 100% of O’ahu’s projected electricity demand if they included some storage and demand response.

The 25% cited in this article is similar to what was found for the Western mainland grid. The Western grid could accept up to 30% wind (25%) and solar (5%) without adding storage. It’s what the grids can accept in their current configuration.

By: bryan

bryan — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:22:45 +0000

Duh, renewables at remote, isolated locating WINNING. Fossils losing.