- Location United States
- Energy Solar Energy
- Client HECO
- Status In construction
- Gross installed capacity 30
- Participation Innergex (%) 100
As part of the request for proposal process launched in 2018 by the Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, Innergex is pleased to propose Hale Kuawehi, a solar and battery storage project, to the Hawai’i community. The project received Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approval in March 2019. This project is being developed on land owned by the historic Parker Ranch near Waimea, on the island of Hawai’i.
The project will power approximately 14,600 Hawaiian households with clean, renewable energy.
To power the island of Hawai’i with clean and renewable solar energy, a solar field is being built with arrays of photovoltaic panels arranged in rows on single-axis tracking foundations. The solar array will 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
Hale Kuawehi must be connected to the grid to supply the community with the needed power. An interconnection route is being built and consist of an overhead transmission line that is extending from the Project switchyard approximately 0.7-miles northwest, across Mamalahoa Highway, to connect into the Hawaii Electric Light Company transmission line.
The solar field and associated infrastructure will occupy approximately 300 acres.
Timeline
Cconstruction of the photovoltaic panels, energy storage components, transmission line and substation is mostly completed and commissioning has started, with commercial operations expected in the first months of 2025.
Community engagement is ongoing throughout the entire process.
The project has the potential to contribute up to 7.7% to Hawaii Electric Lights RFP over the 25-year term of the PPA and 0.8% to the Company’s consolidated RPS.