Hawaiian Electric has selected developer, DG Development & Acquisition, to build and maintain Lanai Solar, the largest utility-scale renewable energy project on the island.
It's Lanai's first project to offer the shared solar program, also known as community-based renewable energy.
DG Development & Acquisition and Hawaiian Electric will now enter contract negotiations, and once the 20-year contract is settled, it will be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission for approval. The developer was selected based on evaluation of customer savings, completion timelines and non-price factors such as community outreach, according to Hawaiian Electric.
“As we continue our efforts to transition away from imported fuel to power our islands, we’re looking forward to beginning our negotiations with DG Development & Acquisition to build the island’s first renewable energy project to offer the shared solar program to the Lanai community,” Hawaiian Electric Communications Manager Shayna Decker told PBN.
Lanai Solar, which replaces an earlier solar project that was not able to be finalized during negotiations, will be located on 73 acres of land and could meet a majority of the current energy demands of the island.
The project could provide up to 17.5 megawatts of solar energy with 3 MW reserved for the shared solar program, paired with an 89 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system. The shared solar program provides a way for customers to install privately-owned rooftop solar.
For more information about the project, go to their website.
