Hawaii Conference to Build 100% Renewable Microgrid

OAKLAND, Calif., May 26, 2016 /3BL Media/ - VERGE Hawaii: Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit, taking place in Honolulu June 21-23, will utilize a 100% renewable energy microgrid—modeling resilience, interoperability, radical efficiency and other key VERGE themes.

“The microgrid brings to life the ambitious renewable energy goal Hawaii is seeking to achieve,” said Eric Faurot, chief executive officer of GreenBiz Group, which is producing the event in partnership with the Hawaii State Energy Office. “By building a 100% renewably powered microgrid, we are demonstrating the power and potential of interconnecting a diversity of technologies.”

VERGE Hawaii will explore innovative clean-energy policies, models, technologies and infrastructure that will set the stage for plans and immediate actions needed to deliver on Hawaii’s ambitious mandate of 100% renewably powered energy in the electricity sector by 2045. The conference will serve as a platform for energy companies, policy leaders and stakeholders from Hawaii and beyond to engage, learn and help drive Hawaii's transformation to a clean energy future.

“We are excited that VERGE is coming to Hawaii in support of our efforts to develop, test and implement emerging clean energy technologies,” said Luis P. Salaveria, director for the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, which oversees the Hawaii State Energy Office. “The VERGE microgrid, powered by 100 percent renewables, represents the type of innovation Hawaii needs, as we transition into our new energy future.”

VERGE Hawaii is part of the global VERGE conference and expo series. Since 2013, VERGE events have utilized microgrids built onsite using off-the-shelf equipment. The microgrid created exclusively for VERGE Hawaii will be installed in the Hilton Hawaiian Village and be comprised of a combination of components across different technologies. OpTerra Energy Services, with local offices in Honolulu, will provide the design, engineering, and project management for the development and installation of the microgrid and will integrate the following pieces with supporting partners:

- Overall Project Management, OpTerra Energy Services

- EV charging station, sourced by OpTerra Energy Services

- Biomass gasifier, All Power Labs

- Blue Ion battery storage, Blue Planet Energy

- Solar panel arrays, SunPower and Solexel

- Wave Microgrid controller, Spirae

“Many perceive our islands' geographical isolation as an obstacle, and to be clear, it does provide challenges,” said Brandon Hayashi, Regional Manager of OpTerra Hawaii. “However, the integrated microgrid that is being built at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a microcosm of how we – the private and public sectors, utilities, Legislature, PUC and greater community – collectively and collaboratively can solve for our islands' 100% clean energy goals by 2045. In other words, the obstacle becomes a part of the solution.” 

To learn more about the VERGE Hawaii microgrid, click here.

ABOUT GREENBIZ GROUP
GreenBiz Group’s mission is to define and accelerate the business of sustainability. It does this through a wide range of products and services, including its acclaimed website GreenBiz.com and e-newsletters, GreenBuzz and VERGE; webcasts on topics of importance to sustainability and energy executives; research reports, including the annual State of Green Business; the GreenBiz Executive Network, a membership-based, peer-to-peer learning forum for sustainability executives; and conferences: the annual GreenBiz forum and VERGE. www.greenbiz.com

ABOUT HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE
The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) is a division of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.  With the state’s goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2045, HSEO is leading the state’s charge toward clean energy independence. HSEO is committed to developing and deploying high impact solutions that will maximize Hawaii’s renewable energy resources and improve efficiency and transportation standards. Through effective policies and innovative programs, HSEO has positioned Hawaii as a leader in clean energy innovation, which will generate quality jobs, attract investment opportunities and accelerate economic growth. http://energy.hawaii.gov

ABOUT OPTERRA
OpTerra Energy Services is a national energy company that works with education, local government, commercial, industrial, and institutional organizations to implement efficiency and sustainable energy solutions that save money, enhance safety, improve assets, and protect the environment. As a subsidiary of ENGIE, the number one energy efficiency services provider in the world, OpTerra Energy Services provides a unique and extensive set of energy and sustainability management services to thousands of customers across the U.S. The company has provided more than $2 billion in energy savings for its customers over the past 40 years. For more information, please visit www.opterraenergy.com.