DNV GL to validate edge-of network management of solar, energy storage in Hawaii’s USD 2.4 million DOE project

DNV GL chosen for fourth time to validate distributed energy project for U.S. Department of Energy.

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification, will serve as accreditor of performance for a federally funded project at Hawaiian Electric Company demonstrating the ability of a grid management solution to deliver on-demand solar energy with energy storage.

As Hawaiian Electric advances toward the goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, the $2.4 million SunShot SHINES project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will use SEAMS (System to Edge-of-Network Architecture and Management for SHINES) to show the feasibility of managing a high proliferation of distributed energy resources (DER) across the utility’s power grid.

Dora Nakafuji, Hawaiian Electric director of renewable energy planning,  said, “We see DNV GL’s global expertise in certification and validation of complex distributed energy resources as providing vital insights to inform our continued growth of reliable, affordable renewable energy for our customers.”

DNV GL Solar Segment Director Ray Hudson said, “The Hawaiian Electric  project aims to demonstrate management of and the optimal mix of solar plus energy storage with a target of maintaining a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of less than 14 cents per kWh.”

The DOE website described the project’s approach: “Using the SEAMS approach, an interdisciplinary team will design and demonstrate new energy management system logics to ‘see and interface’ with distribution-system level, customer-hosted electricity resources.” Essentially, this would provide visibility and access for the utility, allowing them to monitor and use solar PV resources on consumers’ rooftops or wherever they are located.

This project will enable proliferation of a reliable base of SHINES (PV and storage) distributed technologies that offer more plug-and-play customer options for grid participation, and provide cost-effective “grid response” capabilities to system operators.

Hawaiian Electric’s award from SHINES is part of the DOE’s Grid Modernization Initiative, which aims to accelerate the strategic modernization of the U.S. electric power grid and solve the challenges of integrating conventional and renewable sources, while ensuring a resilient energy system combining energy storage with central and distributed generation. Read more at http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/project-profile-hawaiian-electric-company-shines.

DNV GL
Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organisations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. DNV GL provides classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. It also provides certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. DNV GL, whose origins go back to 1864, operates globally in more than 100 countries with its 16,000 professionals dedicated to helping their customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

In the Energy industry
In DNV GL we unite the strengths of DNV, KEMA, Garrad Hassan, and GL Renewables Certification. DNV GL’s 2,500 energy experts support customers around the globe in delivering a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy supply. We deliver world-renowned testing, certification and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy efficiency. Our expertise spans onshore and offshore wind power, solar, conventional generation, transmission and distribu¬tion, smart grids, and sustainable energy use, as well as energy markets and regulations. Our testing, certification and advisory services are delivered independent from each other.

Hawaiian Electric Company
Since 1891, when the company was established under royal charter by King David Kalakaua, Hawaiian Electric has powered the islands' development – from a Hawaiian kingdom to a modern American state. Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light, serve the islands of Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii, home to 95 percent of Hawai‘i’s people. In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are taking the lead in adding renewable energy and developing energy solutions for its customers to achieve a clean energy future for Hawaii. For more information, visit www.hawaiianelectric.com.