Hawaii’s largest photovoltaic installation – Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage – begins generating electricity for Maui | News, sports, work

KAHULUI – AES Hawai‘i has broken ground on the largest solar facility in Hawaii – Kūihelani Solar-plus-Storage on Maui – an impactful renewable energy project generating enough energy for 27,000 homes at 8 cents per kilowatt hour, the lowest cost of energy renewable energy in the world – according to a press release from AES Hawaii.

Located on 450 acres in downtown Maui between Kūihelani Highway and the Maui Veterans Highway, Kūihelani Solar-plus-Storage produces 60 MW of renewable energy supported by a 240 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system that meets 15% of Maui’s demand for energy.

AES Hawai’i has a 25-year power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric that went into effect on May 31, 2024, to provide renewable energy to Maui’s power grid at a cost of 8 cents per kilowatt hour. Additionally, the project offsets the need to import two million barrels of oil to produce electricity for Maui.

AES Hawai’i President Sandra Larsen noted that this is the company’s first utility-scale solar project on Maui and the latest example of AES Hawai’i’s commitment to supporting the State of Hawaii’s goals of 100% renewable energy and decarbonization by 2045 .

“Kūihelani Solar-plus-Storage exemplifies how we can power our future when we combine exceptional renewable energy design with community-minded partners to provide the services essential to living and working in Hawaii,” Larsen said. “In July 2022, we achieved a breakthrough, overcame supply chain logistics challenges, and are now producing much-needed clean energy for Maui’s power grid.”

added Larsen, “We received tremendous support throughout the development and construction process from our partners in Maui County and Hawaiian Electric, as well as from the entire community. The end result is that families and businesses on Maui will benefit from having a state-of-the-art, dual-use renewable energy facility that will make a significant contribution to meeting the island’s energy needs at a very low cost over the next 25 years.”

“With this project, our state is taking another significant step toward achieving our renewable energy goals. “Adding both renewable energy and energy storage will help reduce fossil fuel use, protect us from the impacts of climate change, provide reliable services, and ensure Maui’s energy security.” said Colton Ching, Hawaiian Electric’s senior vice president of planning and technology.

Taking advantage of the project site’s dual-use opportunities, AES Hawai’i is partnering with Ho’oulu ‘Āina Farms in nearby Waikapu to graze sheep on the site to support Maui’s agricultural and food production needs.

The construction of the Kūihelani Solar-plus-Storage and its operation provided employment to nearly 300 people and generated approximately $68 million for Maui’s economy.