Hawaii PUC approves 51 MW wind project

Kaheawa Wind Farm Expansion boosts Hawaii renewable energy with 51 MW capacity, battery energy storage, and as-available power for Maui Electric, enhancing grid stability and supplying wind power to 20,000 homes in West Maui.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission recently approved a power purchase agreement between Kaheawa Wind Power and Maui Electric Company for an additional 21 megawatts MW of wind energy.

The project is an expansion of the existing 30 MW Kaheawa Wind farm above Maalaea in West Maui.

When complete, the expanded wind farm will be the largest wind energy project in Hawaii, even as the Lanai solar farm adds significant capacity elsewhere on the islands. Under the terms of the contract, Kaheawa Wind Power, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based First Wind, will sell as-available renewable energy to Maui Electric at pre-determined prices over 20 years. The expanded wind farm will have a combined capacity of 51 MW, with the potential to produce enough energy for the equivalent of 20,000 Maui homes, alongside progress on Molokai and Lanai projects across the state.

The project will also include a battery energy storage system to assist in meeting performance standards and smoothing fluctuations in wind energy output, similar to the system installed at First Wind’s Oahu wind project at Kahuku.

“We’re excited to be able to deliver more clean, renewable energy to the residents and businesses of Maui.” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “Hawaii has a unique appreciation and understanding of the need for clean, home-grown sources of energy, such as distributed generation approaches, and we’re thrilled we’ll be able to help meet that demand.”

“We are pleased to expand the contribution from First Wind to our portfolio of clean energy resources,” said Ed Reinhardt, Maui Electric president. "In 2010, more than 10 of Maui's energy was produced from renewable resources and we look forward to increasing this even more with energy from this wind farm and other projects like Hawaiian Electric’s Oahu wind efforts underway."

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