Sunnova follows Tesla, Sunrun into Hawaiian solar+storage market

Sunrun got there first, with Tesla not far behind. Now Sunnova, a residential installation service provider, has joined the party, making a deal with Sunetric to bring a solar+storage to residential customers in Hawaii.

The partnership will allow customers to lease solar+storage systems as a package, which the companies say will allow customers to benefit from solar energy even when the sun isn’t shining.

Hawaii consistently ranks as the state with the highest electricity costs in the country. It also has the distinction of having one of the deepest solar penetration rates in the country – which has caused some challenges for Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) as it integrates solar into the grid.

In response to its concerns HECO scrapped net metering, and in its place created two interim programs – a “grid-supply” option which has a cap, and a “customer self-supply” program (CSS). Under the new system, homeowners can install solar on the condition that it does not export electricity back to the grid.

As a result, battery systems are becoming essential for new solar installations in the island state – and this Sunetric/Sunnova partnership will help homeowners meet the regulator’s requirements. According to Sunnova, the integrated system will provide customers the opportunity to use an expedited review and approval process for their systems.

Under the partnership, Sunetric will handle the projects from start to finish, from permitting to lifetime maintenance of the installations. Sunnova will offer guarantees on the entire system, from the panels to the PowerStack battery.

Hawaii has pledged to power the entire state with renewable energy by 2045, however the solar industry has questioned how the state will do this under current policies.