Here is an interesting quote from the first report;
Distributed PV contributes less variability to the grid, but it presents a challenge in high-penetration scenarios (in the absence of a smart grid) because of the inability of the utility to curtail its power production, which results in less flexibility for grid operators.
The study even admits it is incomplete
Although reliability challenges increase with increasing levels of variable
renewable generation, this study found those challenges are manageable from the standpoint of the bulk power system for the scenarios studied with the mitigation approaches recommended. Note that this study did not look at the capital costs for the higher renewable energy scenarios or the mitigation strategies. It also did not assess the integration issues at the distribution level of the power systems.
If you read that paper you will see that there are ways to integrate solar into the grid. The issue is that those methods require modifications and equipment to implement. How much will those changes cost? Who should pay for those changes?
The study even points toward the need for more studies;
The insights from the Hawaii Solar Integration Study form a large body of knowledge for future grid integration studies, and the results can be used to further our understanding of grid integration in other island systems as well as in mainland U.S. systems with high regional solar and wind penetrations.
The second article is about connecting three grids and little if anything about the impact of solar on the grid
The last article is a complaint and does not prove anything.
Here is the entire article;
Maui homeowners and photovoltaic system installers are expressing frustration at requirements that they pay for expensive "interconnection studies" before installing solar panels, with no guarantee that their project will be approved after the study is complete.
There is no reference to how much an interconnection study costs. Here is a better explanation about what an interconnection requirements study (IRS) is and what it is necessary in certain instances. An IRS looks into the local grid capacity to handle the input of electricity from the new installation and whether or not local upgrades would be required to accommodate it. Note that an IRS is only required when there is a lot of solar already on the local grid.
Note that the first two articles deal with much higher level grid issues and not local grids.
Look at the current policy from Hawaiian Electric. Notice that IRS's are only required if DML is >250%. They may be required at lower levels depending on the age and capability of the local grid.
I fail to see how any of this supports the statement that interconnect study requirement is unnecessary,
Sorry but posting a few links to article with the words "Hawaii", "grid" and "integration" is not research.
