Hybrid solar, energy storage system to be constructed on Hawaiian island of Kauai
AES Distributed Energy, Inc. and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) announced Monday the
execution of a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a plant that will combine solar technology and battery-based energy storage on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
The project consists of 28 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) and a 20 MW five-hour duration energy storage system. It will be the largest system in the state of Hawaii to combine solar and batter technologies and one of the largest storage systems in the world.
“We are honored that KIUC has selected AES to help meet their peak demand with a flexible and reliable renewable energy solution,” Woody Rubin, president of AES Distributed Energy, said. “We are excited to be able to leverage AES’ industry-leading energy storage platform, and 20 plus-year history in Hawai’i in order to help KIUC modernize the grid and provide additional value to its customers.”
According to KIUC President and CEO David Bissell, energy from the project will be priced at 11 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). It will make up 11 percent of Kauai’s electric generation, which will increase KIUC’s renewable generation to over 50 percent. Bissell estimates that the project KIUC’s fossil fuel usage will decrease by over 3.7 million gallons per year as a result of the project.
AES DE will be the long-term owner and operator of the project. Pending state and local regulatory approvals, the project is expected to begin operation by late 2018.
