Smart grid technology tested in Maui

Hawaii Smart Grid

Hawaii, the most fossil fuel-dependent state in the US, will be the testing site for pioneering smart grid technology that could help to drastically cut energy use.

A 4-square-mile patch of Maui, on the island of Honalulu, will be home to a new kind of power grid that saves energy by turning off household appliances when electricity is expensive and makes better use of wind and solar power.

GE recently announced they hope to reduce peak electricity consumption by 15 percent in the small resort community of Wailea, by 2012. The smart grid involves a revolutionary wall-based meter that monitors how much electricity is being used by various electrical appliances, and turns them off during peak times when demand, and cost, are at their highest. The project is also focused on upgrading the utility's computer systems so that it can integrate more renewable energy.

Despite there currently being around 70 smart grid pilot schemes nationwide, including Miami and Seattle, Wailea is the only site where this new technology is being carried out.

The Associated Press reports that Wailea was chosen for the smart grid because rapid construction growth in the area, and its isolated location, make it a fertile testing ground. And if the project is successful, similar grids can then be rolled out across the country, "eventually, advanced metering and the smart grid will be all across the country...but they can learn a lot here on a small, easily manageable grid," said Peter Rosegg, spokesman for Hawaiian Electric Co., a shareholder-owned utility and the parent of Maui Electric Co.

Speaking about the new technology, Bob Gilligan, a GE vice president, said: "There's a lot of opportunities for us to improve our knowledge of what's using power, and making it easier for us to shut off the power when we're not around.

"Most consumers aren't really aware of how much energy they're using at any time of day."

Because people will be able adjust there power consumption in accordance with the times when electricity is at its most expensive, consumption will fall along with consumer's energy bills. For example, people could automatically adjust air conditioning and refrigerator temperatures, or choose to delay turning on the dishwasher until power demand drops.

This would also reduce the strain on power grids, allowing the electric utility to absorb more renewable energy from wind turbines and solar panels. This would in turn help green-industries as a whole, as more and more business opportunities open up for all parts of the sector.

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