Solar energy is helping power homes and the Hawaii economy, thanks to Panasonic Elite installer, Revolusun. This report by Energy Monitor Worldwide takes a look at the numbers and the reasons behind them. Find out how to make the solar switch with Panasonic's EverVoltTM total home energy system. Connect with an authorized installer and get all your questions answered.
The ramping up of residential PV installations helped Hawaii's solar industry become one of the bright spots during the state's struggling economy.
Look around Oahu rooftops and more than likely you'll see photovoltaic systems installed.
"36% of the homes on Oahu have solar," said Peter Rosegg, with Hawaiian Electric.
That is because 2020 was a busy year for solar system installers. "There was a lot of concern in the industry that we might see a drop, but in fact we saw a dramatic surge: a jump of 55% in new customers putting in systems in 2020," added Rosegg.
5,965 systems were installed atop Oahu homes last year. A big increase from 2019's 3,840 installations.
With so many residents putting in photovoltaic, solar installers like Revolusun were extra busy. "We did hire additional crew. We had more work in 2020 than 2019. We were glad to be able to add jobs to this economy when so many jobs were being lost altogether," stated Colin Yost, Revolusun's Chief Operating Officer.
Why were solar panels such a hot commodity during the pandemic? "The pandemic created economic uncertainty, so solar is one way to save money and that inspired people to think about it. We were home a lot more, so people were also looking for ways to improve their home," added Yost.
2021 also looks like it should be another strong year for local solar companies.
"We got good news from the federal government, which will extend the tax credit a few more years. It was going to expire, for residential systems, this year," stated Yost.
Now homeowners will get a federal tax credit of 26% through 2022. The credit will then drop to 22% for 2023 before it expires in 2024.
Most of the new residential systems use battery storage to keep the energy made during the day, making them easier to connect to the power grid.
Meanwhile Hawaiian Electric has been upgrading the grid to handle more user generated electricity.
"We launched Quick Connect. Back in the old days, customers could connect and then get permits, and we are returning to that," said Rosegg.
It is not just residential solar installations, Hawaiian Electric also added additional large-scale solar power to the system.
By the middle of this year, shared solar opportunities will roll out for residents who can't hook up at their home.
Making more people individual electricity producers, as well as getting the state closer to its goal of 100% renewable energy production.
"We used to be the central energy producer, now we are the central controller of all these various energy productions," added Rosegg.
It is not just happening on Oahu and only with solar, but with other forms of renewable energy, including wind. Those efforts pushed the entire state's renewable power production to more than a third by the end of 2020.
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