Home solar-storage systems to provide capacity, grid services in Hawaii

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Large-scale solar project on Oahu, Hawaii. For the contract with Swell Energy, utility Hawaiian Electric has gone down a different, more distributed route to meeting its energy needs. Image: Hawaiian Electric Companies.

US utility Hawaiian Electric will turn to thousands of home solar-plus-storage systems for capacity and grid services under a new contract with a virtual power plant provider.

California-based Swell Energy has been contracted by the utility to execute the project, which will see more than 25MW of distributed solar generation paired with around 80MW of domestic battery storage systems to create a “comprehensive” virtual power plant network for three of Hawaii’s islands.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The contract, valued at around US$25 million, has been rubber stamped by state regulator the Hawaiian Public Utilities Commission.

Systems installed by Swell will provide capacity to local networks when required while also providing grid services on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.

For more on this story, visit our sister publication Energy-Storage.news.

13 October 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 13-14 October 2026 is our fourth PV CellTech conference dedicated to solar manufacturing in the USA. From polysilicon, wafers, ingots, cells and modules, to critical component suppliers including glass and frames, the event connects every stage of the value chain under one roof. PV CellTech USA also brings together investors, innovators, manufacturers and industry stakeholders to collaborate and strengthen domestic solar manufacturing across the United States.

Read Next

Premium
September 15, 2026
DYCM’s co-founder Sriram Das talks about US solar manufacturing, domestic supply chains and navigating shifting policy.
Premium
September 15, 2026
Solar project developers ought to move away from a 'throwing spaghetti at the wall' approach, says Glint Solar's Simen Fure Jørgensen.
September 15, 2026
Researchers from Georgia Tech have developed TOPCon solar cells that use copper paste with a maximum conversion efficiency of 24.3%.
September 15, 2026
Japanese petroleum firm Idemitsu Kosan has established its first US-based development laboratory for space-grade copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells.
September 14, 2026
The US Department of Commerce (DoC) has finalised antidumping and countervailing duty rates on crystalline silicon PV cells imported from India, Indonesia and Laos, with combined rates reaching 249.13% for Indian manufacturers.
September 11, 2026
Plans for the US’ “first end-to-end” solar PV critical materials recovery and recycling facility have been announced.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK