Turning the sun or wind into reliable power for homes and businesses isn't as simple as hooking up a PV panel or a windmill. Doing any of it on a mass scale requires the existing power grid to be able to handle it first.
"In the neighborhoods there really are no active controls on utility systems, so as you add lots of photovoltaics and electric vehicles and there's new demand, there needs to be more active management of the systems at that level," said Rick Rocheleau of Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.
That's where so-called "smart grid" technology comes in to measure and manage loads and avoid major overhauls systemwide.
Hawaii has several demonstration projects in the works -- one big one on maui and now another significant one on the way for the valley isle -- this time a $37 million investment by the "new Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization -- a branch of Japan's ministry of economy, trade and industry.
Governor Abercrombie signed a memorandum of understanding with the president of the organization -- explaining why a test project on Maui would be of interest for Japan.
"With the reconsideration of nuclear energy, what role nuclear energy will play in the Japanese energy picture, the advancing of alternative energy technology is even more crucial than it was before," said Governor Neil Abercrombie.
By late next year project contractors including Hitachi will install meters in about 200 residential, commercial and electric vehicle charging locations in the Kihei area.
The goal of this and other smart-grid tests is to see which technologies will help the power systems in Hawaii -- and Japan -- incorporate an ever larger percentage of clean energy.
"Is this a feasible way to have an alternative grid to the one we presently have, and will it work, is it measurable, can we quantify it, can it be a proven technology approach," said Governor Neil Abercrombie.
