Integrated Grid Plan Overview
Integrated grid planning is a multi-year, iterative process that helps prepare our electric system for the future. Through partnerships with stakeholders and community members across the five islands we serve, we chart a roadmap for a safe, reliable and resilient energy future.
Together, we are creating a resilient, clean energy grid powered by resources from Hawaii, for Hawaii. By 2045, our energy system will emit zero net carbon emissions and use 100% renewable resources. The well-being of our communities, economy, and environment depends on a power system that can withstand disruptions, adapt to change and recover quickly.
IGP Resources
Clean Energy Today
A key strategy to reach net zero emissions is generating our energy from clean, renewable sources. As an island state, we can't rely on importing clean energy from neighboring states. Fortunately, Hawaii has an abundance of natural resources that can power a resilient grid.
In 2025, about 37% of Hawaiian Electric's energy generation came from renewable sources. This means we have nearly quadrupled the amount of renewable energy since 2010, when under 10% of electricity sales came from renewables. We're proud of the progress we've made, but we still have a long way to go.
There are many existing and planned facilities to generate clean energy across the islands. See maps of existing and planned facilities in our 2025-2026 Sustainability Report & Maps.
A strong clean energy grid is diverse and balanced. Relying on one energy source can create risks during weather changes or unexpected events (for example, days when tradewinds slow down or the sun is not shining). Using a mix of energy sources helps us:
- Expand energy options
- Adapt to changing needs
- Recover faster from disruptions
- Provide more reliable power and stable costs for customers
Where does Hawaiian Electric's renewable energy come from?
Our renewable energy comes from local sources and a range of technologies. Click below to learn about the types of clean energy we use today.
Distributed Energy Resources
Customer-based energy systems like rooftop solar and battery storage are distributed energy resources, or DER. Hawaii is a national leader in customer-sited DER and has several programs available to customers who want to offset their energy bill by investing in clean energy generation.
Wind
Wind turbines capture the motion of the wind and convert that energy to electricity. The capacity of the resource depends on the natural fluctuations in wind, and can be developed on-island and offshore.
Solar
Energy from the sun is converted into electricity through panel systems. Our solar energy comes in different sizes, including panels on customers’ rooftops, community-based solar projects and large, grid-scale solar facilities.
Biomass & Biofuel
Biofuel and biomass come from organic materials such as plants, agricultural waste, other waste and used cooking oils. They can produce electricity or replace fossil fuels like diesel.
Geothermal
Geothermal energy comes from volcanic heat stored beneath the earth's surface. Underground reservoirs of water heated by volcanic activity can be tapped for steam to generate electricity.
Hydropower
Flowing water in streams and irrigation systems can be used to generate electricity. Hawaii uses what are known as “run-of-the-river” hydro plants. Some water is diverted out of a running stream and piped to a building that houses a turbine-generator. After spinning the turbine, the water is returned to the stream.
Vision and Goals
A Sustainable Hawaii
At Hawaiian Electric, our top priority is building a sustainable Hawaii in which our children and grandchildren, communities, customers and employees will thrive together.
Decarbonizing Hawaii
We are committed to helping meet Hawaii's statewide goal to reach net-zero economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
This effort aligns with global climate goals to limit warming to 1.5°C, and it requires action across industries.
If everyone pitches in, we'll create a cost-effective, sustainable and resilient energy system for future generations.
Clean Energy Vision
“Hawaii Powered” is our vision for using 100% local, clean energy. It celebrates finding solutions for a clean energy future right here in Hawaii. Clean energy for Hawaii, by Hawaii:
Achieves energy independence
Expands energy choices
Supports our decarbonization goals
How We'll Get There:
Reducing fossil fuel use
Expanding energy storage solutions
Expanding geothermal resources
• Adding at least 1 gigawatt of new clean energy projects (including community-based shared solar projects)
Creating customer programs that incentivize the use of clean, lower-cost energy
What’s Ahead: Path to Hawaii Powered
Integrated Grid Planning
Our work to move toward a Hawaii Powered future is guided by a process called integrated grid planning, or IGP. This collaborative process brings together people, data and technology to design a safe, resilient, and reliable grid.
We define resilience and reliability as:
- Resilience is the ability to withstand and recover quickly from disruptions
- Reliability means providing consistent, uninterrupted electric service
Our Planning Process
We are currently developing the plan for building Hawaii's clean energy grid. This work includes considering potential future locations for clean energy projects and grid infrastructure. Throughout the planning process, we will provide information about our progress and invite community members and stakeholders to get involved and share input.
We are currently in the data collection phase of this cycle.
Key Considerations
Planning for a clean energy future is not as simple as unplugging from fossil fuels and plugging into renewables like solar and wind. Look at the list of factors below that we, our stakeholder groups, and community members must consider to plan a clean energy grid.
Time
How quickly can projects be completed?
Cost
What will it cost to design, build and maintain?
Land Use
How big is the project and how does it impact land?
Community
How will it affect neighbors, jobs and the environment?
Resilience and Reliability
Will it hold up to a natural disaster and can it bounce back? How will it meet future energy demands based on changes in electric vehicles, DER adoption, population and more?
Community Engagement
Your input helps share Hawaii’s energy future.
Community Resources
Explore materials, questions and answers that have been developed for IGP education and awareness.
As a customer, you'll start seeing more energy choices and programs to incentivize the use of clean energy. You'll also have opportunities to share feedback with us that will help inform our customer programs and initiatives.
In your community, you may see more solar panels on rooftops, more community-based renewable projects, and upgrades to or development of new grid infrastructure. You'll see opportunities to share insights to help us identify and develop projects and create a more equitable clean energy future.
We gather and consider two types of feedback throughout the IGP process:
- Community: What are community members' value, priorities and concerns?
- Technical: What needs to happen from scientific, engineering and economic perspectives to meet our goals?
We review and consider all feedback provided to our team and identify how it may influence or impact decisions.
We engage these groups in the IGP process:
- Working groups that serve in an advisory capacity. These specialized groups provide technical feedback and ensure community perspectives, values, and priorities are incorporated into the planning process. Learn more about our working groups at hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/integrated-grid-planning/stakeholder-and-community-engagement.
- Technical Advisory Panel with experts in energy technologies and engineering. This panel is an independent source of peer assessment.
- The public, including customers and community members across the islands we serve. Public participation informs each step of our planning process.
These groups are not working alone. There are many others in addition to the IGP process who are involved in creating a clean energy future. These groups include policymakers and regulators (like the Public Utilities Commission), developers and community organizations.
Our team appreciates the opportunity to connect and collaborate with communities that we serve and are a part of. We are committed to equitable, inclusive and transparent community engagement at each step of the planning process. This means:
- Providing accessible and inclusive opportunities to engage
- Offering multiple ways to engage, both online and in person
- Reaching out to and integrating feedback from people who are historically underserved
- Being accountable for feedback we have received
- Reviewing and considering public feedback as part of planning decisions, including where to locate new energy projects and grid infrastructure
- Clearly communicating how community input shapes outcomes throughout the planning process through feedback loops
You’ll see invitations via email and social media to share your thoughts online and in person about:
- Locations for future energy projects
- How best to involve your community in new project identification and development
We will use input from community members and technical experts to inform our recommendations to the Public Utilities Commission about these two topics.