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ACCOMPLISHMENTS Here are some of the accomplishments of the Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership. We have:
One way we are working to realize the objectives of the MSR Initiative is through a strong community Partnership Team drawn from a cross-section of individuals representing public agencies and private businesses. The Partnership Team helps to remove barriers that stand in the way of homeowners and businesses adopting solar electric (PV) and solar hot-water technology. See: Partnership Members List and Descriptions Action Plan The Island of Hawaii MSRI Partners used a grant from the national MSRI organization to develop the Action Plan for the Island of Hawaii. The Action Plan consists of long-range strategies to promote the implementation, commercialization, and widespread adoption of both PV technology and solar water heating systems. It was developed with Team members and provides for local businesses and community members to work together. The plan contains specific initiatives developed in response to the vision and commitment of the Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership to increase the number of solar electric (PV) systems and solar hot water systems installed on the Island of Hawaii. The initiatives aim to strengthen the demand for solar energy technologies and to remove barriers that unintentionally make solar energy options difficult or more expensive. Due to time and resource constraints, the partnership has not yet completed all of the action items. However, the Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership continues to implement the initiatives and projects that it can. It is hoped that a collaborative, market-based approach to commercialization and increased market penetration for solar technologies will lead to sustained and predictable growth in the demand for solar systems. Click here to view the MSRI ACTION PLAN MSRI Display/PV Demonstration Project The educational kiosk, made in part from local woods, houses a combination community bulletin board and educational display about the MSRI, the Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership, and solar technologies themselves. Due to the cost of running grid-provided electricity to the Bay Front public restrooms, they have been without lights since they were built. Having solar electric (PV) lighting there is a great of way to show how solar can help in such situations. Members of local canoe paddling clubs routinely use these restrooms during the day and at night, and the solar electric lights have greatly improved nighttime security and convenience. 
MSRI Grant MSRI grant funding in 2000 provided $50,000 in Federal funds to the Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership to implement four initiatives.
The MSRI web site will provide a home for all information relating to the local MSR Initiative, including: the vision, the action plan and its status, the partners, local projects, programs, resources (both local and national), links to solar Web sites, general information on solar energy, and guidelines for selecting systems. Status: The web site you are viewing is the product of this initiative. We hope you will find the web site useful. Please visit the site again as updates and changes are planned. Send any comments regarding the web site to pmoore@hei.com.Financing The Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership will work to increase the availability of financing options for the purchase of solar systems. This will be done in two ways: (a) identifying existing financing resources and promoting these resources with local lending institutions, and (b) developing case studies that will show how projects can be financed. Status: The partnership has been working with the Renewable Energy Development Institute of Willits, California to implement this initiative. Two well-attended financing workshops for the solar and banking industries were held in Hawaii in June 2001. You can find much of the information that has been gathered so far regarding existing financing resources on the Financing pages of this web site.Permitting Barriers and Education The Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership has worked with the County of Hawaii to improve the permitting process for solar electric (PV) systems. The Partnership sponsored two educational workshops, one for inspectors and a separate workshop for PV installers and the public. These efforts will help speed the permitting process and help ensure that systems are properly installed, to code. Status: In February 2001, the Partnership brought a noted expert on the portion of the electrical code covering photovoltaics and on solar installation and interconnection standards to the Big Island for two workshops. One workshop, Inspecting Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems for Code-Compliance, was attended by electrical inspectors for the County of Hawaii Building Department and by engineers from HELCO. The second workshop, Installing Code-Compliant PV Systems, was offered to solar contractors, installers, suppliers, government agencies, and the general public.Promotion of Solar Technologies The Partnership will conduct a study to gain information to help develop an effective public awareness campaign and a program to promote the adoption of solar technology on Hawaii Island. The study will emphasize non-price factors affecting the adoption of solar technologies among Hawaii's diverse cultural groups. The results of this study can be used by organizations and businesses to promote the wider use of solar technology in Hawaii. Status: The Renewable Energy Development Institute is currently working on this initiative. Watch this Web site for updates.PARTNERSHIP MEMBERS & DESCRIPTIONS Utility
Hawaii Electric Light
Company - Team Leader
Description: Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) is the regulated electric utility for the Island of Hawaii. HELCO has long been a proponent of solar electricity as a renewable energy resource for the island of Hawaii. Since 1994, HELCO has installed several PV demonstration projects using both grid-tied and stand-alone systems. The projects have included a 15 kW PV system installed on the County of Hawaii gymnasium in Kailua-Kona and a 5.4 kW, grid-connected PV system installed at HELCO's Kailua-Kona base yard. In addition, through the Sun Power for Schools program, 1 kW PV systems were installed at Kealakehe and Hilo High Schools, and a solar powered area light was installed at Laupahoehoe Elementary and High School. 
HELCO's Kailua-Kona base yard 5.4kW grid-connected PV systemGovernment
Eileen Yoshinaka
Maria L. Tome Andrea Gill
Raymond Carr Industry
Steve Burns
Katheryne Kent Peter Shackelford
Vicki Vierra Ted Walls |
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To
promote the Million Solar Roofs Initiative and solar technologies, Hawaii
Electric Light Company (the Island of Hawaii MSRI Partnership team leader),
and the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development built
a PV-lighted educational kiosk and installed a PV lighting system in
the public restrooms located adjacent to the canoe sheds at the Hilo
Bay Front. Funds for planning the project came from a grant from the
U.S. Department of Energy. Construction was funded by HELCO and the
County of Hawaii. The project was completed in January 2002.
The
kiosk is an example of a building-integrated PV system (BIPV). The integral
roofing is made of solar -electric slates (Sunslates®) that not only
functions as the roofing material but also as the solar electric power
source for lighting the kiosk. The slates charge a 12-volt battery that
provides power for nighttime lighting. The Sunslates® were graciously
donated for the project by ){kind=link}