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

July 16, 2026
US utilities NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy have formally submitted applications to state and federal governments to merge their companies, creating the largest regulated power utility in the world.
Premium
July 16, 2026
Jim Wood, SEG Solar's CEO, explains the company's US manufacturing roadmap and why it chose heterojunction technology for its new facilities.
July 16, 2026
In the second of a two-part post, Moustafa Ramadan, head of PV Tech Research, explores the increasingly complex risks associated with solar cell procurement in the US.
July 15, 2026
PureSky Energy, ClearGen Holdings and Aligned Climate Capital have advanced distributed solar projects in the US this week.
July 15, 2026
The chief executive of fledgling US module and cell producer T1 Energy has highlighted his company’s efforts to forge local component manufacturing partnerships and tap homegrown engineering talent.
July 15, 2026
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a subsidiary of global asset owner giant BlackRock, has agreed to acquire a majority and controlling interest in commercial solar PV developer Summit Ridge Energy.

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
April 20, 2027
Istanbul, Türkiye