Our goal has always been simple, to provide affordable energy solutions that promote and accelerate the adoption of clean renewable energy. Recently, the utility raised concerns about grid penetration, stability and safety, slowing solar installations until the situation could be fully studied, leaving the path forward in question. Many saw a problem and gave up on solar, but we decided instead, to be part of the solution. After listening to discussion about what couldn’t be done, we decided to imagine, research and implement what could be done to meet the needs of these two very diverse groups—homeowners who want rooftop solar and a utility concerned for the grid. With this new vision in mind, our team at Hawaii Energy Connection worked with our vendors to develop KumuKit™2.0, our next-generation PV system. Our goal was to address these primary concerns: system visibility for the homeowner, grid visibility for the utility, and smooth delivery of stable power to the grid, with the ability to adapt to changes in solar energy policy. Then we added one more goal: develop a concept for the future, but find a solution within reach today. We envisioned cutting-edge technology to address grid issues, allowing more households and small businesses to adopt solar and be grid-integrated as a welcomed clean energy source for everyone. An all inclusive solution, with a way to upgrade first generation KumuKit™ systems and other PV systems, too. Growing a community of distributed rooftop solar into a powerful alternative to imported oil, liquefied gas from fracking, or massive solar farms at the expense of green space.

Smart Energy Management Welcome to the way forward—KumuKit™2.0 now with Smart Energy Management. When you enhance a PV system with Smart Energy Management, you get optimized energy production + optimized energy usage. System visibility is achieved through secure cloud-based tools with an intuitive Energy Dashboard interface that makes it easy to manage select home loads with real-time visibility and historical reporting capability. You can shift time-of-use costs to your best advantage, see where energy is being consumed, identify electricity hogs, set electricity reduction and savings goals, and monitor your progress. Adaptability and responsiveness to the grid are accomplished with our Smart Energy Management Controller. Compatible with most PV technology—old or new, micro or string inverters, including management of compliant smart PV systems. It can adapt to future utility requirements, address changing home and grid conditions, maximize production and optimize overall energy efficiency. A breakthrough in distributed energy resource management—our Smart Storage option enhances a PV system’s abilities and allows you to store your own PV energy. The modular design allows for easy upgrade and incremental expansion. The automatic emergency backup power feature provides for critical loads such as lighting, medical equipment, refrigerators, phone chargers, etc. during an outage. Smart Storage can also buffer, smooth out and stabilize the energy you want transferred back to the grid.

Your power. Your way. Take charge of the solar power you generate. Make your home a powerhouse with a PV system designed to be simple, intelligent, adaptive, interconnected, monitored, controlled, and gridwise—KumuKit 2.0 is the way forward.