Lahaina Energy System Context

Summary

The Lahaina Energy Partnership (LEP) is a multi-year, community-led project, supported by NREL, to identify and assess energy system options for rebuilding Lahaina after the devastating fires. This initiative is crucial for Hawaiʻi, which aims for 100% renewable electricity sales and net-negative carbon emissions by 2045, with a 50% reduction in GHG emissions below 2005 levels by 2030. Key actions include a recently approved 5-year, $190 million grid resilience program by Hawaiian Electric, partially funded by a $95 million federal grant, which involves upgrading 2,100 poles. Lahaina's energy context shows an estimated 570-600 solar PV systems (3,705–3,900 kW capacity) were impacted by the fire, highlighting the need for resilient and renewable energy solutions. Maui County currently generates 36% of its electricity from renewables annually, with 70% at peak hours, and a new 60 MW solar-plus-storage plant is expected to meet 15% of the island's energy needs.

Key Facts

Source Document

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