Abstract: . . . An Overview of Hawaii's Photovoltaic Experience By Leonard Greer, PICHTR, and Cary Bloyd, Argonne National Laboratory September, 1995 Introduction This paper provides a brief overview of Hawaii's experiences with photovoltaic (PV) technology, Hawaii's energy usage and the distinctive features of the state's isolated island electrical grids, including statistics on both conventional and renewable electrical generation capacities. The . . .
. . .  Hawaii's PV usage are discussed; the development and growth of a local residential PV market (especially on the Big Island of Hawaii), and the trend in costs of PV systems in this state, for both utility and residential sized systems. Finally, cooperative working groups are introduced which are dedicated to promoting the cost effective application of PV technology in Hawaii. Overview of Hawaii Energy Use Hawaii is without indigenous fossil fuel resources and depends on imported oil for 92 percent of its energy. This makes Hawaii the most vulnerable state in the United States to the disruption of its economy in the event of a disturbance of the world oil market or rapid oil price increases. Currently 40 percent of Hawaii's oil comes from Alaska . . .
. . .  This effort will evaluate the utility's ability to provide electrical PV services to residents on the Big Island of Hawaii who do not live near the grid. HELCO-maintained residential PV systems will be designed, constructed, and monitored as part of this program. Summary The number of installed PV systems is small primarily due to the high cost of PV components. Further, Hawaii's high land prices must be factored into any economic analysis for commercial viability of any proposed large PV power station. 6 High utility grid connection costs have encouraged the market for residential PV systems in the state. On the Big Island of Hawaii, the development of housing in remote locations distant from the island's electrical grid has generated a demand . . .
. . .  powered lamps were selected as the most cost effective source of illumination. (These were the Barbers Point Deep Harbor Lighting Project, December 1993 and the Camp Kamakaui repair of Hurricane Iniki damaged lights in March 1994.) The utility company of the Big Island of Hawaii (HELCO) is an active member of the PV4U group and has recently launched its own Hawaii Remote Photovoltaic (PV) Program. This effort will evaluate the utility's ability to provide electrical PV services to residents on the Big Island of Hawaii who do not live near the grid. HELCO-maintained residential PV systems will be designed, constructed, and monitored as part of this program. Summary The number of installed PV systems is small primarily due to the high cost of . . .
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