White paper aimed at 'SWITCHing the paradigm' between solar and ag land use on Oahu

News Release from Ulupono Initiative, Dec 08, 2021

HONOLULU, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ulupono Initiative has released a white paper offering an analysis of the benefits and tradeoffs associated with adding more renewable energy onto Oahu's electric system and its impact on agricultural lands. 

Titled "SWITCHing the paradigm," the paper is based on a recently updated analysis conducted by Dr. Matthias Fripp, associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, who used an electricity system planning model called SWITCH (Solar and Wind Energy Integrated with Transmission and Conventional Sources) to evaluate how different land use assumptions would affect land availability, total electric generation costs, and the overall design of the electric system on Oahu.

The intent of the white paper is to foster more productive discussion around the use of limited lands on the island of Oahu to best achieve Hawaii's declared goals to double local food production by 2030 and produce 100% of the state's electricity with renewable energy by 2045.

The white paper states:

"When framed as having to choose one goal over the other, the choice can become paralyzing. However, in reality, the development of renewable energy, specifically solar photovoltaics (PV), and protecting Hawaii's agricultural land do not have to be at odds with each other.

"The following analysis shows that the two can not only coexist but, at times, have a symbiotic relationship that allows us to achieve these ambitious goals simultaneously."

Read the white paper here:
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/272669823/

Download white paper and analysis spreadsheets in PDF:
https://www.ulupono.com/project-list/white-paper-switching-the-paradigm/