LAWAI — Hawaii’s largest hybrid solar energy storage system will be coming to 200 acres near Kauai’s South Shore. The battery system located on former sugar land is scheduled to become one of the biggest of its kind in the world.
“Kauai’s definitely leading the way in solar,” said David Bissell, KIUC president and chief executive officer. “This is a world-class project with a world-class team coming to Kauai to do it.”
The Lawai Solar and Energy Storage Project plans to significantly contribute to the state’s goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.
Nearly 80 people came out to the Thursday groundbreaking held by AES Distributed Energy and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative for the project, which will feature a 28-megawatt solar photovoltaic system and 100-megawatt/hour energy storage.
“The rest of the country is looking to Hawaii to lead the way on energy; and on Hawaii we know it’s KIUC that’s at the forefront, that really is the innovator,” said State Rep. Chris Lee, chair of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. “It’s an amazing project and hopefully the first of many to come.”
Many elected officials were there to show their support, as well as representatives from SunPower Products supplying solar panels, Samsung providing battery storage, and Spanish-based GP Tech supplying inverters/controls, as well as other local and global partners.
“The impact of what’s going to happen here is something that’s so far reaching that it’s going to allow us the opportunity to invest in the infrastructure,” said Sen. Ron Kouchi. “It’s probably the three years that I served on the board doing the strategic planning for this day that is going to create the most lasting legacy of my many years of public service.”
The project will provide 11 percent of Kauai’s electric generation, increasing KIUC’s renewable-sourced generation to close to 60 percent. At 11 cents per kWh (kilowatt/hour), the pricing is well below the cost of diesel each year. Half of the operation costs will be derived from state and federal tax credits with help from the NAFTA Bill.
“Once upon a time we came from the sugar cane fields and pineapple fields, and now we’ve got solar energy coming this way,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “The Aloha Plus Challenge that we participated in statewide, from clean energy to local food production to green jobs and green education, natural resource management, waste reduction and of course green sustainable communities, all ties into what is happening today.”
“Kauai is the oldest island in the state, and we have a purpose for that,” he added, “to set an example, and that’s what’s happening.”
The new facility will provide dispatchable renewable solar energy with the ability to deliver consistent peak-power output for up to five hours outside of daytime hours, while preserving the ability to provide energy direct to the grid during the day.
“Projects like this are possible, because we’ve forged partnerships with landowners like A &B (Alexander &Baldwin) and proven industry leaders such as AES,” Bissell said.
Island School’s Kumu Sabra Kauka brought three of her students to help bless the new site with conch blowing and traditional chanting. The opportunity allowed the youth to learn about renewable and sustainable energy operations for the island.
“I want our students to see the work that our utility is doing, that our engineers and scientists are doing, to provide electricity and energy to our community,” said Kauka, “so that it opens their eyes to future possibilities as far as what kind of work they may want to do.”
The Lawai Solar and Energy Storage Project is scheduled for completion before the end of 2018.
