The Maui News

Rooftop solar applications in Maui County have spiked from 133 at the same time last year to 401 this year, despite the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, Hawaiian Electric reported Thursday.

The company has seen an increase in applications and interconnections across the five islands it services.

New applications totaled 126 for the week ending June 13, including 20 in Maui County (19 on Maui and one on Molokai). The highest number of applications in a single week so far this year was 136 for the week ending Jan. 18.

So far, 2,241 applications have been received, compared to 1,756 at the same point last year.

“Like the solar industry, we are concerned this fluid situation may change due to the impact of COVID-19, so we are carefully monitoring new applications and working with the solar industry on improvements to smooth and speed the interconnection process,” said Lani Shinsato, customer energy resources co-director for Hawaiian Electric.

On Maui, there have been 394 applications so far this year, compared to 126 at the same time last year. Molokai has had six applications and Lanai has had one, both the same as at this point last year.

Meanwhile, Maui has also seen a considerable leap in interconnected systems (this refers to rooftop solar systems that have been activated and connected to the grid). Last year, Maui saw 29 systems interconnected in April and 50 in May; this year there have been 22 in April and 95 in May.

Molokai went from none in April and 18 in May last year to one in April and nine in May this year. Lanai had none during those months last year and one in April this year.

Across the five-island service territory, there were 1,040 interconnections in April and May as compared to 545 during the same time last year.

“We know that some of these totals represent contracts signed before the response to the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, and we may see declines in the future,” Shinsato said. “Still, we commend the solar industry for their ongoing work to serve customers during this difficult period.”

For more information on solar and other clean energy programs, visit hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii.