Solar Coaster in Hawaii with Josh Porter and Jason Verkaart | EP186

Clean Power Hour

Hawaii is a living laboratory for the future of solar, storage, EVs, and grid innovation. Today on The Clean Power Hour, hosts Josh Porter and Jason Verkaart of the SolarCoaster podcast join Tim Montague and share their in-depth knowledge of Hawaii's clean energy landscape.

Josh and Jason explain how Hawaii's high electricity rates, plentiful solar resources, and early adoption of a 100% renewable energy mandate, drove the growth of the solar industry in the state. Net metering helped catalyze residential solar adoption initially, but as solar penetration increased net metering rules changed, leading to non-injection rules meaning solar electrons had to be captured by a battery to meet the code.
We discuss the challenges with siting and developing large-scale renewable energy projects to help meet Hawaii's goals. Only a fraction of the planned solar and storage projects from recent utility RFPs are likely to get built.
We also talk extensively about the potential for vehicle-to-grid integration and bidirectional EV charging to provide grid services and resilience. With large EV batteries, bidirectional chargers, and smart controls, EVs could play a major role in the renewable energy future. Recovery from the recent catastrophic fires in Maui (where Josh and Jason reside) was augmented by the presence of battery banks deployed to provide backup power.
And finally, we geek out on the upcoming RE+ Hawaii conference which Josh and Jason have partnered with to bring together clean energy professionals dedicated to overcoming challenges and discovering business opportunities unique to Hawaii. Use code COASTER15 to get a discount on the RE+ event.
Key Takeaways

1. Why has Hawaii been a leader in rooftop solar adoption?
2. How are changes to net metering impacting Hawaii's solar industry and residential systems?
3. How can electric vehicles and bidirectional charging support the energy transition?
4. How can events and dialogues like RE+ Hawaii drive continued progress?

SolarCoaster Podcast
Josh Porter
Jason Verkaart
RE+ Hawaii Event
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The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com