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Kahana
Solar Energy and Battery Storage
Energy
Solar + Battery
Offtaker
Maui Electric
Status
In Development
Capacity Gross (MW)
20 MW (80 MWh battery storage)
Location
Napili-Honokowai, Maui
Expected Commissioning
4th Quarter 2023
As part of a request for proposal for approximately 900 megawatts of new renewables or renewables paired with storage launched in 2019 by the Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, Innergex is pleased to propose Kahana, a solar and battery storage project, to the Maui community. The Project has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company and was filed with the Public Utilities Commission in September 2020.
This project would be developed on land owned by Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc. (MLP) in Napili-Honokowai on the island of Maui.
Kahana can generate up to 74,621 MWh per year providing Maui Electric with flexible, semi-dispatchable renewable energy to approximately 11,600 homese
To power the island of Maui with clean and renewable solar energy, a solar field would be built with arrays of photovoltaic panels arranged in rows. The solar array would charge the battery during the day to provide electricity whenever it is needed most, day or night.
A solar project of this nature also requires the following components:
- the solar photovoltaic system;
- a network of electrical collector lines;
- battery energy storage and inverter units;
- step-up transformers;
- a collector substation and transformer;
- an overhead generation-tie line;
- internal access roads; and
- temporary laydown (i.e. staging) areas for construction.
Land
This project makes productive use of unproductive land. Maintaining large tracts of agricultural lands is a core value of Maui County residents. At the same time, the public acknowledges that farming on Maui is more difficult than ever with high costs of inputs, production, and shipping. Most residents do recognize the need for these landowners to diversify in order to keep their large land holdings intact. Renewable energy development is a low impact way of accomplishing this.
Kahana must be connected to the grid to supply the community with the needed power and connect into an existing Maui Electric Company, Ltd. (Maui Electric) transmission line adjacent to the site.
The Project would utilize fallow agricultural lands, which has not sustained active activities since 2009 – the installation of a solar project would not displace existing agricultural production.
The solar array and associated infrastructure would occupy approximately 220 acres.
Timeline
In 2019, Hawaiian Electric launched the second phase of their renewable energy procurement process, the single largest procurement effort undertaken by a U.S. utility, for approximately 900 MW of new renewable generation.
Community engagement is ongoing throughout the entire process.
August 2019
Request for Proposal Issued
November 2019
Request for Proposal Bids Submitted
January 2020
Short Listed and submitted Best and Final Offer
May 2020
Final Award Group Selection/ Contract negotiations begin
July 7, 2020
Virtual Public Open House
2020-2021
Public Utilities Commission Approval of the PPA
2020-2022
Complete Archaeological, Cultural, Environmental and Technical Studies and Obtain Permits and Approvals
Q4 2022
Estimated Construction Start
December 2023
Proposed in-service date for the project