Renewable Energy Projects that Support Homesteading (Solar and/or Small-Scale Wind/Rooftop Wind + Battery Storage)

Project #4

This graphic visualizes a diverse range RE solutions for those living on and off the grid, powering an individual home or a business, in existing or new homestead areas, scattered across large 40 acre lots or clustered in residential neighborhoods.

Molokai homestead communities are exploring what hosting or owning their own renewable energy generation and storage would mean for them and what it could look like. Siting projects on Hawaiian Homes Trust Lands would give homesteaders an almost unparalleled degree of decision-making power over how these projects are to be developed and provide an opportunity to generate wealth in their communities. Homestead energy needs range from individual household energy consumption to agricultural/business energy use. So far, homesteaders are interested in exploring various technologies and ownership models that suit current homestead situations, including ʻohana scattered across large 40-acre lots, homes clustered in residential neighborhoods, areas where HECO infrastructure is not an option, and future homestead development. Practical RE options might include:

  1. Rooftop solar + batteries (grid-tied): to support homesteader households’ access to the financial and resiliency benefits of at- home clean energy. Many homesteaders missed out on past Net Energy Metering (NEM) programs due to rooftop requirements and program closure due to limited grid hosting capacity. By exploring options and funding resources, it allows homesteader households’ the ability to be more independent.
  2. Individual off-grid homes: As described in Project 5, this is a desirable option for achieving maximum self-sufficiency and independence. For other families, who live in isolated/new homesteading areas where connecting to the larger grid is not an option or is cost-prohibitive, this solution can support them in accessing more affordable and reliable energy.
  3. ʻOhana-scale on and off-griding (aka nano grids or shared micro-grids on a single tax map key): to support multigenerational homesteaders in accessing electricity across more of their homestead lots. Currently, many are confined to building near main roads due to the high cost of additional grid infrastructure. This would allow separate ʻohana households to share upfront installation costs and energy resources – whether they’re a utility customer or not.
  4. Rooftop micro-wind: to diversify personal energy generation and utilize excellent Hoʻolehua wind resources without visual disruption to ʻāina or people.
  5. Community-scale solar and small-scale wind + batteries: As described in Project 3, the community highly values community-scaled energy options. Unlike many other places on Molokai, the Hoʻolehua community is open to exploring the benefits and impacts of small-scale wind (100 kW turbines or smaller). Some homesteaders are already familiar with similar small-scale wind solutions.
  6. Support water pumps: As described in Project 1, the community wants energy infrastructure to support local critical infrastructure – water pumping is a top community priority to reinforce with RE.
  7. Microgrid options: As described in Project 7, the community wants to investigate the potential resiliency and self-sufficiency/ independence benefits of community-owned microgrids.

Project Description

  • Onsite generation decreases the risk of electric disruption for critical infrastructure and takes into account sea level rise/road flooding/etc. that could isolate certain areas for long periods of time.

Molokai homestead communities are exploring what hosting or owning their own renewable energy generation and storage would mean for them and what it could look like. Siting projects on Hawaiian Homes Trust Lands would give homesteaders an almost unparalleled degree of decision-making power over how these projects are to be developed and provide an opportunity to generate wealth in their communities. Homestead energy needs range from individual household energy consumption to agricultural/business energy use. So far, homesteaders are interested in exploring various technologies and ownership models that suit current homestead situations, including ʻohana scattered across large 40-acre lots, homes clustered in residential neighborhoods, areas where HECO infrastructure is not an option, and future homestead development. Practical RE options might include:

  1. Rooftop solar + batteries (grid-tied): to support homesteader households’ access to the financial and resiliency benefits of at- home clean energy. Many homesteaders missed out on past Net Energy Metering (NEM) programs due to rooftop requirements and program closure due to limited grid hosting capacity. By exploring options and funding resources, it allows homesteader households’ the ability to be more independent.
  2. Individual off-grid homes: As described in Project 5, this is a desirable option for achieving maximum self-sufficiency and independence. For other families, who live in isolated/new homesteading areas where connecting to the larger grid is not an option or is cost-prohibitive, this solution can support them in accessing more affordable and reliable energy.
  3. ʻOhana-scale on and off-griding (aka nano grids or shared micro-grids on a single tax map key): to support multigenerational homesteaders in accessing electricity across more of their homestead lots. Currently, many are confined to building near main roads due to the high cost of additional grid infrastructure. This would allow separate ʻohana households to share upfront installation costs and energy resources – whether they’re a utility customer or not.
  4. Rooftop micro-wind: to diversify personal energy generation and utilize excellent Hoʻolehua wind resources without visual disruption to ʻāina or people.
  5. Community-scale solar and small-scale wind + batteries: As described in Project 3, the community highly values community-scaled energy options. Unlike many other places on Molokai, the Hoʻolehua community is open to exploring the benefits and impacts of small-scale wind (100 kW turbines or smaller). Some homesteaders are already familiar with similar small-scale wind solutions.
  6. Support water pumps: As described in Project 1, the community wants energy infrastructure to support local critical infrastructure – water pumping is a top community priority to reinforce with RE.
  7. Microgrid options: As described in Project 7, the community wants to investigate the potential resiliency and self-sufficiency/ independence benefits of community-owned microgrids.

Strengths

😊

  • Wind generates electricity during the day and night, rain or shine. This means that wind energy tends to be cheaper than solar counterparts.
  • Wind energy complements solar energy well and could reduce the amount of battery storage needed.
  • Almost no air, water, and soil pollution.
  • Small wind turbines will not impact animal habitats nearly as much as larger wind turbines.

😣

Weaknesses

  • Small-scale wind turbines are not as cost effective as larger wind turbines and may not be as reliable or as easy to maintain than solar PV.
  • Small-scale wind turbines may be noisy and disturb nearby residents. This can be lessened if appropriately sited.
  • Reducing the blade length by 50% results in an 8-fold reduction in power output.

Opportunities

😍

  • Projects could provide grid services for the larger Molokai grid and support future smart grid innovations.
  • Can design Molokai regional systems to support mobile emergency generators and additional cold storage units (for food and mass casualties) that strengthen emergency response and disaster preparedness facilities.
  • Smart meters provide detailed insight on how RE is performing and how much energy is being used/generated to help energy operators protect the grid and homes.
  • Hui Up style programs could be a solution for supporting privately-owned critical infrastructure in equipping their facilities with RE systems.
  • Small-scale wind turbines are not as cost effective as larger wind turbines and may not be as reliable or as easy to maintain than solar PV.
  • Small-scale wind turbines may be noisy and disturb nearby residents. This can be lessened if appropriately sited.
  • Reducing the blade length by 50% results in an 8-fold reduction in power output.

😱

Threats

  • “Hosting capacity” for rooftop PV is very limited. Therefore, new onsite RE would likely need to be paired with batteries and energy exporting options may or may not be available.
  • Current legislative/utility process on tribal lands.
  • Wind power still generates negative community feelings because of the experience with “Big Wind”.

Community Position

The Molokai community is in FULL SUPPORT of and committed to co-designing a site specific community-scale solar project for Maunaloa/West Molokai that provides the level
of energy quality, stability, resilience, and economic relief the Maunaloa community needs.

Project Specific Requirements

  • Community-based site specific project design that provides a detailed cost analysis and understanding of trade-offs between potential project sites and critical infrastructure location, tech options, community needs, potential grid services and configurations (e.g. islandable or hybrid microgrid), responsible end of life plans, environmental and cultural impacts and the other energy system requirements described earlier.
  • Maunaloa/West Molokai’s RE project must account for current community needs, future growth, grid hardening, and the potential diversification of energy generation for West Molokai.
  • The Molokai community, and especially those who live in Maunaloa/West Molokai, will have the final say on how RE projects like this can support them individually and as a community.
  • Disallow HECO self-build from competing in potential project RPF; thereby promoting competitive bidding.

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