Two technology demonstration projects — proposed by the Hawaii State Energy Office in partnership with the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative — will receive more than $17.9 million in federal funding through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program, the U.S. Department of Energy announced recently.
The projects — Utility Solar Grid Forming Technology, or USGFT, and Synchronous Condenser Conversion Technology, or SCCT — leverage existing power generation equipment with new technology and will enable KIUC to achieve its goal of 100% renewable energy within the next 10 years. The projects are scheduled to begin in early 2024 with an estimated completion date in mid-2025, according to the announcement.
"Kauai is proving that transitioning to locally produced renewable energy alleviates the energy burden for families and businesses by reducing extreme price volatility," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. "We are grateful to the Biden Administration for supporting these projects, which we believe will showcase how these technologies can achieve similar benefits on other islands."
The USFGT project adds battery storage and advanced grid forming inverters to two existing solar power plants. The GRIP program will cover half of the total project cost, estimated at $32.5 million, with KIUC contributing the other half, as noted in the announcement.
The SCCT project adds grid-forming capability to an existing generator at the Port Allen power station. The GRIP program will provide half of the cost of the project, which totals $3.35 million, with KIUC contributing the remaining half.
On Oct. 18, the U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $3.46 billion in GRIP program investments for 58 projects across 44 states to strengthen electric grid reliability across America, according to the department website.
