By Staff Reports
(Honolulu) – Another solar-plus-storage project is now planned for O‘ahu, joining three other grid-scale solar projects recently selected by Hawaiian Electric Company in a procurement effort to expand the state’s renewable energy portfolio.
The 12.5-megawatt solar array will be in West O‘ahu and include a 50-megawatt-hour storage system. Details about the project will be released by the developer as part of its community outreach activities in coming weeks.
The solar projects were proposed in response to a request for proposals issued by the Hawaiian Electric Companies in February. Hawaiian Electric determined that because of its size and location, the West O‘ahu project could be added to projects selected earlier, further accelerating the island’s transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
Hawaiian Electric is currently negotiating power purchase agreements with developers of the solar projects to set the terms for them to sell electricity to the utility. The goal is to complete the agreements so the projects can take advantage of federal tax credits, lowering the costs for utility customers. Final terms will be announced when the agreements are submitted to the Public Utilities Commission for review.
Including the latest project, there are now five major grid-scale projects announced for O‘ahu in recent weeks, part of the largest infusion of renewable energy in state history. The projects four solar and one wind project are designed to generate 186 megawatts, displacing an estimated 800,000 barrels of oil annually.
Previously announced projects on O‘ahu are:
Kunia Solar, 52 MW with 218 MWh storage
Mililani Solar, 39 MW with 156 MWh storage
Waipio Solar, 36 MW with 144 MWh storage
Palehua Wind, 46.8 MW (as a wind facility produces electricity 24/7, energy storage is not required for this project)
In addition, several major renewable projects are under construction or awaiting permitting on O‘ahu, representing more than 154 MW of generation. They are the 110-MW Clearway (formerly NRG) three solar projects, 24-MW Na Pua Makani wind and 20-MW West Loch Solar.