Hawaii Island’s Waikoloa Solar Plus Storage project will be constructed by global energy company, BayWa r.e. Power Solutions, the company announced Aug. 9.
The project is owned and operated by The AES Corporation and has an estimated life span of 25 years. Once it begins operations in April 2023, the Waikoloa Solar Plus Storage project will generate 42.2 MWdc of renewable energy, with a 120 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system, according to AES.
The announcement of the new contractor came shortly after the recent groundbreaking by AES of Kuihelani Solar Plus Storage, and alongside the looming closure of Hawaii’s last coal plant at the end of this month.
"We have completed several successful solar and storage projects in Hawaii," Todd Lindstrom, CEO at BayWa r.e. Power Solutions LLC said in a statement. "We're excited to support Hawaii's renewable energy leadership in the U.S. and about the growing relationships we have with the local community. We look forward to bringing more renewable energy solutions to the island as we grow."
The project will contribute more than 7% of Hawaii Island’s annual energy needs, producing enough electricity to power 13,600 households at a cost of nine cents per kWh, according to BayWa r.e.
Hawaiian Electric Co. has a 25-year power purchase agreement for the energy generated and stored by the facility. Construction on the project has already begun, according to BayWa r.e., and it will be located on approximately 300 acres near Waikoloa Village. 200 jobs will be created over the course of construction of the project, and it is expected to generate $47 million toward Hawaii’s economy.
As previously reported by PBN, Waikoloa Solar Plus Storage was among 16 other projects selected by Hawaiian Electric in an RFP in June 2020.
