Published: 7 May 2021, 09:29
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Rendering of Plus Power s Kapolei Energy Storage I project. Image: Plus Power.
Approval has been granted with significant conditions attached for a large-scale standalone battery storage project designed to help the Hawaiian island of Oahu overcome energy reliability and supply concerns as a coal power plant retires.
Regulator Hawaiian Public Utilities Commission (PUC), approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in September 2020 by the state’s main utility, Hawaiian Electric, for energy dispatched from Kapolei Energy Storage I, a 185MW / 565MWh battery facility under development by Plus Power.
The developer’s project was one of 16 solar-plus-storage and standalone storage projects proposals awarded contracts by Hawaiian Electric in a competitive solicitation process that went on considerably longer than anticipated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The utility contracted for a total of 460MW of solar and 3GWh of energy st