The number of photovoltaic permits obtained on Oahu jumped in September and October, contributing to a year-to-date installations increase of 8.3% over the same point in 2020, according to data compiled by Marco Mangelsdorf, responsible managing employee of Hilo-based ProVision Solar.
There have been 3,836 solar permits issued by the City and County of Honolulu so far in 2021, compared to 3,541 through October 2020.
September saw 596 new permits and October 566, compared to a monthly average of 334 in the previous eight months.
Hawaiian Electric Co. instituted its "Battery Bonus" incentive program in July with a goal of obtaining 50 megawatts of distributed power from new and existing solar-plus-storage owners. According to Mangelsdorf, that has directly led to a rise in the quantity of PV permits sought.
"The battery bonus program on Oahu, ordered by the Hawaii [Public Utilities Commission] and being executed by Hawaiian Electric, has led to a big shot in the arm to a number of major solar electric players on the island," Mangelsdorf told Pacific Business News in an email. "While the overall increase January-October 2021 PV permits has been a modest 8% over last year, RevoluSun, Hawaii Energy Connection, Sunrun, Tesla and Malama Solar are having banner years and selling a whole lot of battery storage, especially the Tesla Powerwalls, going in."
Year-to-date, locally based RevoluSun is by far the leader in both permits, with 706, and sales volume, at nearly $26 million. Hawaii Energy Connection jumped to the second spot at 513 permits and $15.8 million in sales volume, with Sunrun rounding out the top three at 407 and $12.4 million.
Malama Solar, which was PBN's Fastest Growing Company for 2021, ranks sixth on Oahu with 203 permits and $5.9 million in sales volume, compared to 17th at this time last year with 31 permits and $1.3 million in sales volume.
