Hawaiian Electric picks Onyx for shared solar program on Lanai
Hawaiian Electric has tapped Onyx Development Group to develop Mikiola Solar, the largest utility-scale renewable energy project on Lanai and the first shared solar program on the island.
The project could provide up to 17.6 megawatts of solar energy with 3 MW reserved for the shared solar program. Further, it will be paired with a 73 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system. The project will be sited on 73 acres of land owned by Pulama Lanai, adjacent to Hawaiian Electric’s Miki Basin facilities. It is expected to come online in late 2024.
The shared solar program provides a way for customers, including renters, apartment residents, small business owners and organizations, to benefit from solar electricity without installing rooftop solar.
“The opportunity to work with Hawaiian Electric and the residents of Lanai to decarbonize the grid through this project is important to our future and the next generation,” Mary Beth Mandanas, chief executive officer of Onyx, said. “We appreciate the social and environmental impact our company can make and are excited to begin working on this inaugural community-based renewable project on Lanai.”
Onyx was selected after a competitive bidding evaluation of customer savings, completion timelines and non-price factors including community outreach. The 20-year contract will be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval.
“We are excited to secure a partnership with Onyx to power Lanai with such large-scale solar energy and provide all of our Lanai customers with more opportunities to benefit from renewable energy,” Rebecca Dayhuff Matsushima, vice president of resource procurement for Hawaiian Electric, said. “This is a major step in transitioning Lanai away from the price volatility of imported fossil fuels and taking action on climate change.”
Once Onyx is approved by the PUC, Lanai customers may become “subscribers” to that facility by applying directly to the subscriber organization or through Hawaiian Electric’s online customer portal. Once the project is up and running, subscribers receive credits on their monthly electricity bill based on a monthly lump sum payment.
Onyx Development Group is the development arm of Onyx Renewable Partners, a leading clean energy ecosystem provider headquartered in New York City.
