Ka Pili Kai Summer 2012 - Sea Grant College Program

Maui A-Listed for AdvancedEnergy Distribution PilotBy Christian Damo, UH Manoa ˉ electrical engineering student and employee of theUH School of Architecture and the Center for Smart Building and Community DesignThe typical American is accustomed to terms preceded by theword “smart.” Smart phones, smart cars, and smart televisionsare devices that “think” on their own, whether it be fetchingthe menu of the nearest restaurant, redirecting energy from the brakesto the battery, or suggesting what television shows you might want tosee. We, as a technologically advanced culture, have now applied thisto our infrastructure in hopes that we can implement the same ideasand concepts.The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the “Maui Smart GridProject” under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(ARRA) as part of a nationwide set of demonstration projects. MauiMeadows in South Kihei was selected to be the site for evaluatinghome-based smart grid technologies. The smart grid, often calledthe energy internet, is a system of interconnected technologies thatenable two-way communications between different parts of theelectric power system, from generation through to the meter andappliances that consume electricity. The smart grid allows for greaterinsight and predictability about energy supply and demand andallows for greater integration of renewable energy sources, such assolar and wind power.Led by Maui Electric Company (MECO) andthe Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI)at the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa, theMaui Smart Grid Project has enrolled over110 volunteer residential participants. Theequipment is in the process of being installedthis year. All participants will receive smartmeters and access to a secure website displayingthe home’s energy consumption information.The smart meters record home energy usage at15 minute intervals, detect and alert the utilityto power outages and power quality problems,and can communicate with other smart devicesinstalled inside the home. The meters allowtwo-way communication between the homeand the electric utility’s facilities via a wirelessnetwork. For qualified participants, the projectis also providing real time energy use displays,photovoltaic system monitoring devices, anddemand response equipment. The team willbe testing how these technologies can helpparticipants manage energy use, reduce energydemand during periods of high demand, andbetter utilize renewable energy on Maui.The project will collect data for at least a yearand submit a report to the Department of Energyevaluating the technologies based on what islearned from the Maui Smart Grid Project.This report will also be shared with projectparticipants. Project results will be comparedwith other demonstration projects throughout theU.S. and be used for decision-making onfuture smart grid initiatives in Hawai‘iand across the nation.Selected UH Sea GrantPublications2011 EnvironmentalProduct GuideBy Stephen Meder, Eileen Peppard, JoannaGriffith, Laurel Swan, and Samia SilveiraE Mälama I Nä ‘ÄinaKumu Wai O MaunaluaA Watershed Handbook for theResidents of MaunaluaBy Jolie R. WangerHomeowner’sHandbook to Preparefor Natural Hazards- Second EditionBy Dennis J. Hwang and Darren K. OkimotoBack to TOCEnergy Sustainabilityin the Pacific Basin:Case History of the State ofHawai‘i and the Island of O‘ahuas an ExampleBy Michael W. Guidry and Fred T. MackenzieA graphical breakdown of the “Maui Smart Grid Project” and how the variety ofdevices will interact with one another. On the left are devices that will be implementedfor the project outside of the house. On the right, within the house silhouette, aredevices shown that will be found in the houses of those volunteering for the project.For more information please visit MauiSmartGrid.com.Adam Oberbeck and Christian Damoare UH Mänoa engineering studentssupervised by Eileen Peppard, asustainability specialist with the UH SeaGrant Center for Smart Building andCommunity Design. They are taskedwith inputting the Maui smart griddata into a database to begin the initialanalysis. The Maui Smart Grid Projectis being managed by James Griffin, anenergy specialist at the Hawai‘i NaturalEnergy Institute.Hawai‘i CoastalHazard MitigationGuidebookBy Dennis J. HwangFor more information, please visit our website:http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu14 Ka Pili Kai 15 Ka Pili Kai