The number of solar rooftop systems increased 4.35% last year on the Big Island.
Hawaiian Electric announced Thursday that it integrated 1,019 megawatts of solar capacity into its grids by the end of 2021, which it described in a news release as “a major milestone.”
The company said 4,656 private rooftop solar systems were installed statewide in 2021, for a total of 92,504 photovoltaic systems. That’s an increase of 5.3% over 2020.
Oahu had 63,086 PV systems by the end of last year, 96% of which were residential. The Big Island had 14,700 systems, 94% residential, and Maui County had 14,718, 92% residential.
Over the next nine years, Hawaiian Electric hopes to cut carbon emissions from power generation 70%, which includes the addition of 50,000 rooftop solar systems on homes and businesses, as part of the company’s “Climate Change Action Plan.”
“Increasing the number of solar systems by 50,000 is very aggressive. I very much support any and all efforts to add more solar, of course,” Marco Mangelsdorf, a manager at ProVision Solar, said. “But if you parse that out, it would equal 30,000 on Oahu and 10,000 each on Maui and the Big Island.
“Adding another 10,000 (on the Big Island) is a very big deal. And it would require a bunch of tumblers falling into place for that to happen,” he added.
Mangelsdorf also noted that the biggest challenge right now is getting the permits to further expand solar. Unfortunately, the county’s Department of Public Works’ new Electronic Processing &Information Center, or EPIC, is the reason why thousands of permits are backed up.
Despite the increase in rooftop solar systems statewide, electricity costs are closing in on an all-time high.
Mangelsdorf said the record high, not adjusted for inflation, was 44 cents per kilowatt hour on the Big Island back in 2009, when oil was close to $150 per barrel.
We’re approaching that record high, with oil prices tallying just over $80 per barrel Thursday.
But for those who can afford to go solar, it makes sense.
“As the cost goes up for electric, the economics for solar get better and better. There’s a faster return on investment,” Mangelsdorf said.
Solar systems generally cost around $20,000, and can increase up to three times that, according to the size of the home or business. However, there are federal and state tax credits that can help.
Barring various caps, some customers can hope to recoup about 50% of the system cost, including battery storage, recovered in the form of state and tax credits.
Lani Shinsato, Hawaiian Electric’s customer energy resources co-director, said in a news release that increasing solar participation is possible through programs such as Quick Connect and Battery Bonus.
Unfortunately, Hawaiian Electric’s website states that Battery Bonus is only available to Oahu residents.
Email Krista Rudiger at krudiger@hawaiitribune-herald.com.