Solar

Hawaii’s largest solar facility begins generating electricity for Maui

Hawaii’s largest solar facility begins generating electricity for Maui
The Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage is located on 450 acres in central Maui (courtesy: Hawaiian Electric)

AES Hawaii has commenced operations on Hawaii’s largest solar facility, Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage, located on 450 acres in central Maui between Kuihelani Highway and Maui Veterans Highway.

Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage will generate 60 MW of renewable energy supported by a 240 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system to supply 15% of Maui’s energy needs.

AES Hawaii has a 25-year power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric that went into effect on May 31, 2024, to provide renewable energy for Maui’s power grid at 8 cents per KWh, which is the lowest renewable energy cost in the state, per the company. AES says the project is offsetting the need to import two million barrels of oil to produce electricity for Maui.

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

“Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage exemplifies what is possible for powering our future when you combine an exceptional renewable energy project with community-minded partners to provide an essential service for living and working in Hawaii,” said Larsen. “We broke ground in July 2022, overcame challenges posed by supply chain logistics, and are now producing much-needed clean energy for Maui’s power grid.”

Larsen added, “We received great support throughout the development and construction process from our partners at the County of Maui and Hawaiian Electric and the community at large. The end result is that Maui’s families and businesses are going to benefit from having a state-of-the-art, dual-use, renewable-energy facility that will make a substantial contribution to supporting their island’s energy demands at a very low cost over the next 25 years.”

“With this project, our state takes another significant step towards achieving our renewable energy goals. Adding both renewable power and energy storage will help reduce our use of fossil fuels, protect us from the effects of climate change, ensure reliable service, and provide energy security for Maui,” said Colton Ching, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of planning and technology.

Capitalizing on the project site’s dual-use capabilities, AES Hawaii is partnering with Ho’oulu Aina Farms in nearby Waikapu. Sheep will be able to graze on the project’s land in support of Maui’s agricultural and food production needs.

On the southwest side of nearby Oahu near Honolulu, Plus Power commenced operations on the Kapolei Energy Storage Facility earlier this year. The company calls the project “the most advanced grid-scale battery energy storage system in the world.”

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