Rising Sun Among First Tesla Energy Authorized Reseller/Installer in Hawaiʻi
The Maui-based Rising Sun Solar + Electric LLC announced that it is among the first Telsa Energy Authorized resellers and installers in the state.
The company, based in Haʻikū, now offers Tesla Energy’s Powerwall home battery and Powerpack commercial battery to its customers via both self-purchase and financed solutions.
Company representatives say that through its existing partnerships with Sunrun and SunPower, Rising Sun is one of a select group of Tesla Energy authorized resellers and installers in the state that are able to sell, finance and service Tesla Energy products.
Rising Sun will be pairing the Tesla Energy Powerwall home battery with the SolarEdge StorEdge inverter and optimizers. The SolarEdge StorEdge inverter and optimizers are a new residential solar solution designed specifically to function seamlessly with the Powerwall. Customers who install the SolarEdge StorEdge inverter and optimizers at home will be able to upgrade to the Powerwall Home Battery in the future.
Company representatives say the arrival of the Powerwall in Hawaiʻi “comes at an ideal time” for residential customers after the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission introduced a new regulatory framework for rooftop solar in October 2015.
With the end of Net Energy Metering rooftop solar customers have two tariff options to connect to the utility grid, Grid Supply or Self Supply.
Rising Sun representatives say the Powerwall helps customers maximize solar energy consumption and cost savings under both tariffs. The Tesla Powerwall home battery’s functions includes self-consumption of solar energy (self-supply), backup, grid services, load shifting and peak shaving.
Brad Albert, co-owner and founder of Rising Sun Solar, said “We are very proud to become a Tesla Energy Authorized Reseller and Installer. We now have an affordable and reliable home storage solution to pair with our best-in-class solar panels. Solar consumers can save more money by adding a Powerwall to their home system than is currently possible with any standard solar system under the new utility rules.”
Although the Powerwall is able to provide battery back-up in the event of a utility power outage, Telsa Home Battery systems do not presently operate off-grid. “The product is the future of grid-tied storage and battery back-up,” said Albert.
Rising Sun Solar will also offer the Tesla Energy Powerpack commercial battery to its commercial customers. The Powerpack offers renewable firming, capacity/spinning reserve, load shifting, peak shaving, demand response, micro-grid, transmission/distribution support, backup and grid services.
With one in nine Hawaiʻi residences currently PV-powered, Hawaiʻi has the highest percentage of solar penetration in the US. Hawai’i is also the first US state to commit to a 100% renewable energy future, after Governor David Ige signed into law House Bill 263 in August 2015.
“Energy storage was the missing link on our path to 100% renewable energy in Hawaiʻi,” said Albert. “The Tesla Powerwall is a convenient, attractive, wall mounted product that is home ready. The product can easily be retrofitted into a regular home without additional venting, clearance of structural reinforcements. The future is here,” he said.