The number of photovoltaic permits issued in Hawaii County nearly tripled in May despite Kilauea Volcano erupting and thousands of people evacuating their homes on the east side of the island.

There were building permits issued for 149 solar electric systems last month compared with 55 in May 2017, according to Marco Mangelsdorf, who tracks rooftop solar permits and is president of Hilo-based ProVision Solar.

Through five months, PV permits issued on Hawaii island jumped 56 percent to 431 from 276 in the year-earlier period. The top two solar companies to pull permits on the island year to date have been Sunrun and ProVision Solar.

“With the lava-compromised Puna Geothermal Venture power plant offline indefinitely, the percentage of renewable energy feeding into the HELCO (Hawaii Electric Light Co.) grid has taken a significant hit,” Mangelsdorf said. “Last year, 57 percent of electricity consumed on the Big Island came from renewable sources (geothermal, wind, solar and hydro), the highest percentage in the state. In terms of the island’s total generation January-April 2018, PGV provided 29 percent. At present, and for the foreseeable future, petroleum is being combusted to cover the loss of PGV.”

Mangelsdorf said given the uncertainty of whether and when geothermal will make a comeback on the island, “it would be prudent to consider other renewable energy alternatives, such as deploying rooftop and utility-scale solar PV along with energy storage, at an accelerated pace.”