1. The West Oahu solar and storage project is part of Hawaii’s goals to become petroleum-independent by 2045, selling electricity to HECO at a lower cost than fossil fuels.
2. The project supports the University of Hawaii-West Oahu in reducing its carbon footprint and funding education, with delays due to a wait for substation components.
3. AES is transitioning from coal power to renewables in Hawaii, with multiple solar and storage projects in operation and development to replace fossil fuel generation.
The solar and storage project in West Oahu, Hawaii, was welcomed by the state’s governor, Josh Green, as a significant step towards making the island petroleum-independent by 2045. The project, part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, aims to sell power to utility Hawaiian Electric Co at a lower cost than fossil-fuel-generated electricity. The project supports the University of Hawaii-West Oahu in reducing its carbon footprint and funding education.
The project was awarded to AES as part of a 2018 HECO request for proposals, marking the state’s largest-ever renewable energy procurement. Despite delays due to various factors including the pandemic and supply chain issues, construction started in mid-2022. The 25-year power purchase agreement with HECO for the project’s output is at a rate of US$0.115/kWh.
Hawaii has been actively replacing its fossil fuel fleet with renewable energy sources, driven by the high cost and environmental impact of imported fuels. AES’s project in West Oahu is their first solar and storage project on the island, following the decommissioning of the last coal power plant in the area. The state has also seen the inauguration of the Kapolei Energy Storage plant, claimed to be the most advanced grid-scale battery energy storage system in the world. AES Hawaii operates multiple solar and storage projects in the state, with additional projects in development.