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 22, 2026
A South Carolina circuit court has upheld a decision by the York County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) that solar panel manufacturing is not a permitted activity in the county’s Light Industrial zoning district, a setback for Silfab Solar.
July 22, 2026
US renewables developer rPlus Energies has started commercial operations at its 125MW Pleasant Valley Solar 2 project in Ada County, Idaho.
July 22, 2026
Recycling solution firm Comstock Metals and module manufacturer Illuminate USA have signed a solar material recycling services agreement.
July 22, 2026
Utility Hawaiian Electric Company has launched a request for proposals (RFP) seeking renewables and energy storage across three islands.
Premium
July 21, 2026
Sofab Inks has today announced that it has secured US$6 million in to expand its tin-based ETL solution for use in perovskite solar cells.
July 21, 2026
Avantus has started commercial operations at its Aratina 1 project in California, which combines 200MW of solar PV and 500MWh of batteries.

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