Large Customer-Sited Energy Storage System Activated In Hawaii
Wet’n’Wild Hawaii and Stem Inc have activated a large customer-sited energy storage system in Hawaii, connecting mutiple sites. According to a press release, the system has been supported by Hawaii’s Energy Excelerator, the Hawaiian Electric Company, and the US Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative.
As for specifics, the storage system, equaling 108 kilowatts / 216 kilowatt-hours, represents an important stage in the deployment of storage solutions, stated Tad Glauthier, vice president of Hawaii Operations at Stem last January:
“By providing increased visibility and control of customer-sited resources, Stem is adding a new arrow to utilities’ quivers and turning a challenge into a solution. This project not only supports Hawaii’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045, but also serves as a replicable model for global energy companies of how today’s distributed resources can truly compete with traditional, fossil fuel-based alternatives.”
This storage endeavor is part of a three-year pilot to deploy electric storage systems at about 30 local businesses on O‘ahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, using Stem’s storage solution.
The platform goal is to help improve reliable electric service for customers of utilities with high levels of rooftop solar and other distributed energy resources. The project will be part of the U.S. DOE SunShot Initiative’s “Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV (SHINES)” to demonstrate visibility and control of edge-of-network resources.
“Hawaii’s renewable energy growth and isolated location present unique and significant challenges for local grid operators,” said John Carrington, CEO of Stem. “Utilities and regulators are watching Hawaii to determine the viability of storage-enabled grid services. We are proud to be working with Hawaiian Electric to address those grid challenges with our technology.”
Deploying its software platform, supported by real-time data and predictive analytics, Stem will work to better integrate energy storage at customer sites to help customers manage their loads and provide the Hawaiian Electric Companies with grid responsive resources. For the first time, grid operators will be able to see and manage customer-sited resources, including energy storage, alongside conventional generation resources from their existing control platforms.
“We follow the sun. Our hours of operation are specifically during peak times for sunlight, so this project is very attractive for us,” said Jerry Pupillo, Wet’n’Wild Hawaii general manager. “The batteries will kick in to decrease that peak usage spike we have always battled. This makes dollars and sense for us as a business as our peak use determines the rate we pay. Big picture: this could help the utility avoid building another power plant because with battery storage our electricity use can be more precise and controlled to help manage the grid.”
“Hawaiian Electric is very happy to partner with Wet’n’Wild in our distributed energy storage pilot with Stem,” said Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric vice president for corporate planning.
Image via Shutterstock
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