Kupono Solar goes live on Oahu, bringing bring solar, battery power

Ameresco, Inc. held a dedication ceremony for Kupono Solar this month, celebrating the launch of commercial operations for the 42 MW solar and 42 MW battery storage site at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam West Loch Annex in Hawaii.

This renewable source will benefit the Hawaiian Electric grid on Oahu with enough power to keep 10,000 homes running. It was set on 131 acres of U.S. Navy-owned land through a long-term lease, and will ultimately benefit both the Department of Defense and the state. It’s now the largest solar-plus-battery storage facility on Oahu, and according to Hawaiian, in addition to advancing the state’s clean energy goals, it it will help stabilize energy costs and reduce fossil fuel usage.

“Congratulations and mahalo to Ameresco, the Navy and all those who worked collaboratively to get this project online, even in the face of challenges that included a worldwide pandemic,” Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric president and CEO, said. “These strong partnerships move us closer toward energy independence and help build a more resilient Hawaii.”

The dedication took place at Ewa Beach. With the event concluded, it represented Ameresco’s first utility-scale solar project in Hawaii – a project that first broke ground in October 2022.