SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION Business Energy · SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION Now is also the time to...

73JANUARY 2011 · HAWAII BUSINESS

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Business EnergyG U I D E 2 0 1 1

SAVE ENERGY, SAVE MONEY2011 IS THE YEAR TO MAKE CHANGES

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74 JANUARY 2011 · HAWAII BUSINESS

SAVE ENERGY, SAVE MONEY

2011 IS THE YEAR TO MAKE CHANGESBY GAIL MIYASAKI


Now is also the time to look into more utility savings options, government tax credits and new options in renewable-energy systems that not only save money, but help make money as well. Local energy experts agree that, while 2010 was a banner year for energy effi ciency and alternative-energy growth in Hawaii, 2011 is shaping up to be even bigger.

“We will see across-the-board growth in clean-energy projects, because Hawaii is the place to do it,” says energy administrator Ted Peck, of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. He projects $1.2 billion in clean-energy investments in the state in 2011, a four-fold increase since 2009. This increase is a result of groundwork following the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative of 2008, the fi rst of its kind in the nation. A joint venture by the state of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Energy, the CEI’s goal is to have 70 percent or more of Hawaii’s energy needs provided from

effi ciency measures (30 percent) and locally generated renewable sources (40 percent), including solar, oceanic, geothermal and wind. The partnership engages a range of private-sector companies, from representatives of the solar industry to utilities that provide the bulk of renewable-energy sources, as well as a number of county, state and federal agencies, to achieve its ambitious goals.

“Hawaii is about to enter a period of impressive growth and development in clean energy,” says Peck. The nation and the world are watching, says Chris DeBone, the managing partner at Hawaii Energy Connection, a locally-owned solar integration company dedicated to affordable solar solutions since 2007.

“Governments and utilities nationally and worldwide are looking to Hawaii as a test bed for how to deal with the adoption of renewable energy,” says DeBone. Our island state has unique energy production, variability and distribution challenges

SSwapping old light

bulbs for CFLs. Servicing air-conditioning

systems for optimal effi ciency.

Changing to solar water heat-

ers and Energy STAR refrigera-

tors for hot-water and refrigeration

costs. If you are a business owner in Hawaii, these

are likely on your “To Do” or “Done” list to reduce your

business energy costs for 2011.

ON THE COVER: SUNETRIC EMPLOYEES INSTALL SOLAR PANELS. PHOTO BY DAVID CROXFORD




interest and investment by the U.S. Departments of Energy, Agriculture and Defense, as well as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the state has three integrated bio-refi nery projects in the works. In November 2010, the

that drive up the cost of electricity to both commercial and residential users. If Hawaii can do it, the nation and the world may follow.

Every business and commercial-property owner contributes to this new energy landscape by the energy-effi ciency and renewable-energy options they choose to incorporate in work environments and buildings. Navigating this changing landscape of business energy, however, will take careful planning and diligent research because of the potentially signifi cant costs involved, the ever-increasing options in new technologies and fi nancing, and the time limits on certain tax offsets, rebates and other attractive fi nancial incentives. Stabilizing the cost of energy to run businesses is key for Hawaii, according to energy experts. The good news is that there are resources to help the business owner as never before.

PUBLIC AND UTILITY ENERGY INITIATIVES

DBEDT’s Peck believes that energy can be an economic driver for Hawaii in this emerging energy landscape. That would be a seismic change for a state that has historically relied on imported fossil fuel for 90 percent of its energy use, and has consistently had the nation’s highest electricity rates. According to Peck, the Clean Energy Initiative has attracted

federal government awarded DBEDT a $1.2 million grant to build energy-storage systems. These systems will allow electric utilities on all islands to accept more renewable energy by helping smooth out the ebb and fl ow of electricity to the grid from non-fi rm renewable sources, such as solar and

Energy can be an economic driver for Hawaii in this new emerging energy landscape ... a seismic change for a state that has a 90 percent reliance on imported fossil fuel sources for energy use.—Ted Peck, DBEDT Energy Administrator

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– by using gas for cooking and drying laundry (think of all the tablecloths, dish cloths, bedding and clothing). The Gas Co. currently serves the energy needs of 28,000 commercial and residential customers using a 1,100-mile pipeline on Oahu. It also supplies propane to 40,000 customers.

“World energy prices are likely to rise as economic conditions improve and drive demand,” says Kissel. The Gas Co. is jumping into sustainability by developing processes to convert renewable-energy sources to produce synthetic natural gas (SNG) virtually identical to natural gas found and used worldwide. The company has commissioned a fi rst-ever pilot plant to begin using plant-based

wind. New kinds of energy products, such as animal feed and ammonia, with potential for export are also being explored by the state.

“If we do it right, people will be astounded by the possibilities of clean-energy projects with the potential for enabling us to export some of the energy products,” says Peck.

Businesses should consider gas for energy savings, says Jeffrey Kissel, president and chief executive offi cer for The Gas Co. Gas can be nearly three times more effi cient for heating water for industrial use and for backing up solar water heating. Hotels, food and laundry-service businesses save money – and energy

oils and animal fat to produce an initial target of 5 percent of its SNG supply with renewable feedstock sources for Honolulu. If the plant proves successful, the company hopes to expand the pilot and ramp up production in coming years, Kissel adds.

The pilot SNG project at Campbell Industrial Park has the potential of providing an economic boost to Hawaii’s agricultural industry and generate a whole new source of economic revenue for our community, says Kissel. Currently, agricultural waste products, such as fi ber from sugar, beef tallow or fat, cane stalks or aquaculture waste, incur costs for farmers to haul them away or

Gas has the ability to be nearly three times more effi cient for providing hot water for industrial use and for back-ing up solar water heating.

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TO ACHIEVE OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS, WE MUST TAKE ALL THE RIGHT STEPS.

Only by harnessing a wide variety of renewable resources will we achieve a Clean Energy Future for Hawaii. That means investing in local resources like wind, sun, ocean, geothermal, biomass and biofuels. It means using energy more efficiently in our homes and businesses. By reducing our dependence on imported oil, we can keep millions and perhaps billions of dollars here at home and create local jobs in many energy-related industries. To find out more about the steps we all must take, visit hawaiisenergyfuture.com.

WIND

SOLAR

ELECTRIC CAR

GEOTHERMAL

BIOMASS

BIOFUELS

OCEAN

SMARTGRID

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hydrogen gas we already produce at our plant,” says Kissel. In December 2010, The Gas Co.’s partnership with the automaker was joined by 10 other organizations, including the University of Hawaii, to support the integration of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source for vehicles in Hawaii. GM’s

create issues for global warming in decomposing. The plant turns these waste materials into new revenue streams for farmers, and new sources of energy for Hawaii.

“We are also supporting General Motors’ introduction of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles with the

hydrogen-powered vehicles are projected to hit the roads in 2015, with 20 to 25 hydrogen stations to be installed on Oahu at stations run by existing gas-station operators. This will make The Gas Co. the fi rst utility in the country to supply hydrogen fuel for vehicles.

Serving fi ve islands in the state, Hawaiian Electric Co. is Hawaii’s largest electricity provider and a key player in the state’s Clean Energy Initiative. HECO believes the biggest development in 2011 will be the continued increase in renewable-energy use by both HECO and the business community, says vice president of customer service Dave Waller.

“Reliability is at the core of our business. Our customers need steady and consistent electricity they can count on,” says Waller of the utility’s plans to accelerate its renewable-energy sources in 2011. In the works are plans to convert HECO’s 110-megawatt power plant at Campbell Industrial Park and the Maalaea power plant on Maui to biofuel use. HECO is also testing biofuel use at existing power plants at Kahe Point and Waiau.

HECO is also an active participant in the state’s ambitious wind-energy plan to deliver electricity from wind farms on Maui, Molokai or/or Lanai, or all three islands, via undersea cable. The project’s environmental study is targeted for completion in 2012. HECO is also working on an electric-

“We are also supporting General Motors’ introduction of the hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles with the hydrogen gas we already produce at our plant.”—Jeffrey Kissel, president and CEO, The Gas Company

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When it comes to going green,We mean business!

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“Reliability is at the core of our business. Our customers need steady and consistent electricity they can count on.”—Dave Waller, VP of customer service, HECO

vehicle rate structure in anticipation of EV sales, and Waller’s department is working on Ke Ala Hou, a complete refreshing of its customer-information system to better serve commercial and residential customers.

For HECO’s solar-energy customers with photovoltaic (PV) systems, net metering began in 2008, says Waller. The consumer-based, renewable-energy initiative of the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 required all utilities, including HECO, to establish net metering. Net metering means that businesses or residents with a renewable-energy system interconnected to HECO’s grid can receive credit for the excess electricity their systems produce to offset electricity billing period expenses; in essence, spinning the meter backwards.

Feed-in tariffs (FIT) will be the big issue for commercial PV owners on the grid, say solar-energy experts, with 2011 being the fi rst full year of the policy’s implementation, following its establishment by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in 2009. FIT mandates that regional electricity utilities purchase renewable energy from eligible Hawaii companies, thus enabling them to make money from the electricity they produce from their PV systems.

Waller is confi dent that FIT will take off in Hawaii. HECO is watching carefully, with “a lot to learn” on how the FIT process will affect the stability

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Electric Light Co. (HELCO), the Big Island’s utility.

Geothermal energy is considered the state’s most reliable alternative

of the electricity delivered on the grid for all customers. The rates for feed-in tariff, schedule and standard-interconnection agreements were approved in October 2010. Qualifi ed projects will receive a fi xed rate over a 20-year contract, with three different rate tiers based on technology and system size.

Maximum caps on system size are set to ensure stable electricity generation and vary by island and technology, with some areas on Oahu already reaching the saturation point for the cap maximum. “The pressure for growth access (on the grid for the feed-in tariff) is across all three tiers, with commercial having the most concern,” says Mark Duda, president of Hawaii Solar Energy Association and principal for RevoluSun, a Hawaii-based company specializing in residential and commercial-scale distributed renewable-energy projects.

RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR THE GRID

As the state’s largest single renewal-energy producer and the only commercial producer of geothermal energy, Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) offers a look at how the steady fl ow of energy from heat from the Earth offers a consistent renewable-energy solution for the electricity grid. PGV provides geothermal-produced electricity to Hawaii Island

energy as the only “fi rm” energy source, compared to the intermittent production capabilities from solar, wind and ocean. When HELCO is able


“The pressure for growth access (on the grid for the feed-in tariff) is across all three tiers, with commercial having the most concern.”—Mark Duda, president,Hawaii Solar Energy Association

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voltage support to the Big Island grid,” says Kaleikini, looking ahead to 2011. When HELCO needs the support, PGV will respond accordingly, he adds.

“No renewable energy source does that at the present time. It

to accept more geothermal energy, “we’re always ready to provide it,” says plant manager Michael Kaleikini.

“From our perspective, we are hoping that HELCO will be able to use our generators for frequency and

means putting a new independent power agreement in place and getting PUC approval,” says Kaleikini. PGV is also awaiting approval from HELCO and the PUC to provide 8 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable geothermal energy that would boost PGV’s power generation from 30 to 38 MW for Big Island customers.

IMPROVING BUSINESS ENERGY EFFICIENCIES

Hawaii Energy is the new independent conservation and energy-effi ciency program administrator for the public-benefi ts fees (formerly called the energy-effi cient fees when they were collected by the utilities on all islands, except Kauai). Beginning in July 2009, these fees (approximately 1 percent of each rate payer’s utility bill) have come under the auspices of Hawaii Energy, as the state’s independent Public Benefi ts Administrator.

Since taking over, Hawaii Energy has initiated new effi ciency programs and standardized rebates, discounts and other incentives to move utility customers toward greater energy effi ciency in their businesses and homes, says director of operations Derrick Sonoda. Customers on all islands, except Kauai, can expect one set of rules and forms and one point of contact for rebates for energy effi ciency measures.


When HELCO is able to accept more geothermal energy, “we’re always ready to provide it.”—Mike Kaleikini, Puna Geothermal Venture

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costs and return on investment,” says RevoluSun’s Duda. Added incentive comes from the newly launched FIT web site, where eligible businesses can apply for feed-in tariff benefi ts; some commercial areas are already full or close to full for the maximum cap. While your FIT bid may not be

In 2010, Hawaii Energy launched its Small Business Lighting Program to provide rebates to businesses that retrofi t their lighting systems. Businesses can use their own electrical contractors, but Hawaii Energy will give a larger rebate to those that use HE-approved contractors who have agreed on the retrofi ts at fi xed prices. In January 2011, Hawaii Energy will establish an incentive rebate program for large Class A commercial building owners to recommission their air-conditioning systems by hiring AC specialists to keep their cooling systems running at optimal energy effi ciency, years after the systems were installed.

Among Hawaii Energy’s new commercial customer offerings are Light Up the Savings, a small-business lighting program that provides turn-key energy-saving lighting retrofi ts with low out-of-pocket costs. This program can save companies 30 percent to 60 percent of their lighting bills, says Sonoda. Other commercial incentives include increased window-fi lm rebates, from 35 cents to $1 per square foot for air-conditioned space, and a CFL lamp recycling program.

SOLAR BOOM

Hawaii solar-energy companies advise commercial property owners to “do it now.” “Generally, the longer you wait the more costly your PV system will be in terms of out-of-pocket

rejected, eligible businesses that come in after the cap is met will be required to conduct an interconnection study at their own expense. “The study might cost $30,000 and take nine to 12 months to complete,” Duda says.


Among Hawaii Energy’s new commercial customer offerings are “Light Up the Savings,” a small business lighting program that provides “turnkey” energy-saving lighting retrofi ts with low out-of-pocket costs that can save companies 30 to 60 percent of their lighting bill.—Derrick Sonoda, Hawaii Energy Director of Operations

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Corp. established in 2006, offers a “Design Services Development” program to guide commercial clients through the highly technical and potentially costly and time-consuming process of considering a PV system for their businesses. Begun in early 2010, the program has taken off , says Paul, by giving transparency and visibility to the process, while enabling the business owner to have the choice of “go” or “no go” along the way for an investment of this magnitude.

Sunetric chief executive offi cer Alex Tiller, whose company’s

Scott Paul, chief executive offi cer of Hoku Corp., believes this initial year of FIT implementation in Hawaii will be a test of the tariff’s structure, particularly for the largest projects in FIT’s third tier, which produces in excess of 500 kilowatts. “The primary issue is, will it meet the expectation of attracting investments to Hawaii for renewable energy projects?” he says.

Paul says business owners will reap the benefi ts of installing a solar system sooner rather than later, even without the benefi t of the feed-in tariff. Hoku Solar, a division of Hoku

commercial solar business jumped from 20 percent of total business in 2009 to 60 percent in 2010, predicts that commercial businesses eligible for the FIT will have to decide by the fi rst or second quarters of 2011. He believes that the combination of the FIT implementation in Hawaii and the 30 percent federal tax credit will make commercial solar an even bigger part of his company’s business in 2011.

The FIT will likely work best for commercial-property owners with low energy use in relation to the roof size of their buildings, says Tiller. “If you use more electricity than your roof generates, net metering may work better for you to reduce the retail rate of your electricity costs,” he explains, although you will still benefi t from producing energy for your own needs. If you own a large warehouse that uses little or no electricity, you are a likely candidate for the FIT. Sunetric served the fi rst net-meter client in the state, a large construction company on Sand Island, whose owner is expanding his PV solar system to qualify for the FIT.

Financing is shaping up to be one of the biggest opportunities for the total alternative- energy industry, not just solar, as new fi nancial products come on line, says Tiller. Possibilities for fi nancing energy investments include bond-market facilitation of large-scale commercial projects, corporate liquidity and new loan structures. As commercial fi nancing


“The primary issue is, will [FIT implementation] meet the expec-tation of attracting investments to Hawaii for renewable energy projects?”—Scott Paul, CEO, Hoku Corp.

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But add the state’s 35 percent tax credit to the federal tax credit, and commercial- property owners can realize a lucrative 65 percent of their investment back in tax credits in 2011.

Beachside Solar Technologies vice president and general manager Tim Murph, who saw his company’s growth in revenues double in 2010, was among those in the solar industry who had hoped the 30 percent federal tax grant would be extended. “Every commercial customer of ours took the cash,” says Murph, who nevertheless believes 2011 will continue to be good for solar energy in Hawaii.

models evolve, RevoluSun’s Duda cautions businesses to “beware of ‘one-size-fi ts-all’ fi nancial models.”

PPAs (power purchase agreements) matching investors with business owners have proven to be an attractive fi nancial tool to help nonresidential users, particularly small businesses with limited cash reserves and credit options, make the move to solar to reduce operating costs.

The continued availability of attractive tax credits will also be a driving factor for solar energy in 2011, says DeBone, of Hawaii Energy Connection. As part of the 2009 ARRA (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act), qualifi ed businesses can receive a 30 percent federal tax credit for installing a renewable-energy system. Renewal of the 30 percent tax cash grant portion of the Act is not included in the current tax plan proposed by the Obama administration and was scheduled to sunset on Dec. 31, 2010.

A division of Beachside Roofi ng, the largest commercial roofi ng company in Hawaii, Beachside Solar features CIGS, one of the latest in fl exible thin fi lm solar cell modules for PV systems. It is used as light-absorber material for thin-fi lm solar cells, and is 50 percent more effi cient than earlier thin fi lms, says Murph.

Established in 2007, GreenPath Technologies Inc., a U.S. Small Business Administration-designated Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO)-owned company, is currently working for the Department of Defense on a non-glass solar-cell module, which eliminates the issues of weight and fragility associated with glass. Lightweight and foldable for deployment in war zones to charge radios and other portable electronics, the next-generation module may have potential for commercial and residential applications, for which weight and portability are considerations.

According to president Briand Achong, GreenPath can design,


“Our specialty is to ensure that roof warranties stay intact by considering building and roof integrity while designing a PV system for customers.” —Briand AchongPresident, Greenpath Technologies, Inc.

CIGS, one of the latest in fl ex-ible thin fi lm solar cell modules ... is used as a light absorber material for thin-fi lm solar cells and is 50 percent more effi cient than earlier thin fi lms.—Tim Murph, Vice President and General Manager, Beachside Solar

PUBLIC- AND UTILITY ENERGY INITIATIVES

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1-2h_bleed.indd 1 6/3/10 9:41:19 AM

94

state boundaries, Hawaii presents a unique challenge as a chain of islands, with each island essentially a micro-utility. Storage could make a bigger difference here because “electricity surges, brownouts and blackouts have a larger impact,” says DeBone.

Storage technologies for intermittent or non-fi rm renewable energy can act as buffers and help smooth out the peaks and valleys in the state’s electricity delivery. Storage technology is still in its infancy and, while different solutions exist, including batteries and pumped-

storage hydroelectricity, “there is no magic bullet yet,” says DeBone.

Over the past three years, Hawaii has experienced a large increase in the number of solar companies, from approximately 15 PV installers in 2007 to more than 150 today, with many offering full-service, integrated solutions that can include design, engineering, manufacture, installation and fi nancing, among other services.

manufacture and install PV systems for commercial, government, military and nonprofi t clients in Hawaii, select states on the Mainland and, with a new offi ce opening in Guam this year, in the Pacifi c region. The company recently installed a PV system, including a sustainable Energy STAR-rated Cool Roof, at the J. Walter Cameron Center on Maui, using a PPA to fi nance the system for the nonprofi t agency. “Our specialty is to ensure that roof warranties stay intact by considering building and roof integrity while designing a PV system

for customers,” says Achong.Since solar power is an

intermittent renewable-energy source, storage of excess energy generated when the sun is down or not shining is a major technological challenge. Sunetric’s Tiller says that whoever solves the storage issue “will be the next Bill Gates.” Unlike on the Mainland, where the electrical grids are interconnected, easily crossing

Solar-industry leaders emphasize the importance of fi nding the right company with which to partner. Prospective solar contractors should have proven track records of success in PV systems and solid portfolios of satisfi ed clients. Installing a commercial solar system is a sizable investment, which can cost $200,000 to $1 million or more, depending on location, capacity size and other factors.

Hawaii’s solar industry is growing up fast. RevoluSun’s Duda says its true economic impact is currently under-represented, because the industry involves many professionals, such as architects, electricians, construction workers, attorneys, public-relations agencies, and others. “A general contractor in the current down economy may actually have the majority of his company’s projects working on solar-system installations,” he adds.

According to the American Council for an Energy Effi cient Economy, business activity associated with energy effi ciency and renewable-energy solutions, including solar, wind, geothermal and oceanic, remained strong throughout the recent recession. Funding, research and effort are all expected to continue well into the next decade. This may be your company’s year to take the step toward advancing Hawaii’s Clean Energy 2030.


“If you use more electricity than your roof generates, net metering may work better for you to reduce the retail rate of your electricity costs.”—Alex Tiller, CEO, Sunetric

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JANUARY 2011 · HAWAII BUSINESS


1-2h_bleed.indd 1 6/3/10 9:41:19 AM


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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION Business Energy · SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION Now is also the time to...

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