Floating rivals battle off Hawaii

The United States has kicked off an offshore wind lease process in Hawaii following expressions of interest from rival developers.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has deemed as complete Progression Energy’s recent proposal for a 400MW project off the south coast of Oahu.

BOEM confirmed the company is legally, technically and financially qualified. Alpha Wind Energy was similarly vetted for a pair of 408MW projects in early 2015.

Both proponents propose to install turbines on Principle Power’s semi-submersible WindFloat foundations (pictured).

Given the applications, BOEM is skipping the competitive determination step in the planning and leasing process. The bureau plans to publish a ‘call for information and nominations’ to solicit public comment and potential interest from other developers.

Progression has spent three years developing its site: a 121-square-mile area with an average depth of 2700ft about nine miles from shore.

“The project’s levelized cost of energy is similar to solar with the added benefits of a grid-friendly generation profile and ancillary services that Oahu’s electricity grid needs,” Progression chief executive Chris Swartley said in a letter to BOEM.

The collection system will feed into a floating substation which will transmit the electricity to land via two 138kV high voltage alternating current cables. Progression proposes to construct the wind farm in two phases from 2020 to 2023.

The project would provide about 25% of Oahu’s electricity and help the state reach its aggressive renewable portfolio standard, said the company. Hawaii in 2015 set a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045.

The project’s “grid friendliness translates into real cost savings, especially as renewable energy penetration increases on Oahu’s grid,” said Swartley.

Image: Principle Power