Hawaiian Electric announced that in 2024, the company achieved 36% “consolidated renewable portfolio standard” through a boost in new grid-scale and rooftop solar capacity and is on track toward their 2030 RPS milestone of 40%.

What You Need To Know

  • Geothermal, biomass, hydro, wind, biofuels and solar, including 114,000 rooftop systems, contributed to the 36%

  • “With four new solar and storage projects coming online this year and more in the pipeline we’re on a strong pace to reach the 40% milestone significantly ahead of schedule,” Kimura said

According to the company, 36% represents the consolidated RPS on Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui County and is the percentage of electricity generated by renewable resources. Compared to 2023, the RPS increased by three percentage points, representing an 8% increase in renewable energy on the grid.

“In partnership with our customers, project developers and communities, we’re making tremendous strides adding renewable generation to our island grids and we’ll continue to build on this momentum,” said Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric president and CEO, in a news release.

“With four new solar and storage projects coming online this year and more in the pipeline, we’re on a strong pace to reach the 40% milestone significantly ahead of schedule,” Kimura said.

Geothermal, biomass, hydro, wind, biofuels and solar, including 114,000 rooftop systems, contributed to the 36%.

(Graph courtesy of Hawaiian Electric)

Other 2024 RPS highlights include:

• Grid-scale solar generation increased with the addition of AES West Oahu Solar in March (12.5 megawatts with a 50 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system; AES Kuihelani Solar on Maui in May (60 MW with 240 MWh BESS); Kupono Solar on Oahu in June (42 MW with 168 MWh BESS); and Hoohana Solar I on Oahu in December (52 MW with 208 MWh BESS), which is expected to achieve commercial operations in 2025.

• New private rooftop solar installations totaled 61 MW. About 43% of single-family homes served by Hawaiian Electric have rooftop solar.

• Puna Geothermal Venture’s renewable production continued to increase while recovering from the shutdown after the May 2018 eruption of Kilauea Volcano.

In 2025, Hawaiian Electric officials say they are expecting to further increase renewable generation and battery energy storage on Oahu and Hawaii island and adding thousands of rooftop solar systems on all islands.