Global renewable energy company BayWa will construct a 30MW solar and 30MW battery storage plant on Hawaii for AES Corporation.
BayWa r.e. will build the Waikoloa Solar + Storage project, an integrated solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system, with a 120 megawatt-hour capacity, in the South Kohala district on Hawaii island.
Permits have been secured and site preparation and construction on the project have begun, with substantial completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The power generated and stored by the Waikoloa Solar + Storage plant, which AES will own and operate, will be sold to local utility Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
On completion, the project will produce enough electricity to meet more than 7% of Hawaii island’s annual energy needs.
Over the course of the project, 200 jobs will be created, and the project is expected to generate a total economic output of an estimated $47m toward Hawaii’s economy.
The solar portion of the project will feature single-axis trackers equipped with bifacial PV modules.
The associated lithium-ion battery system will store energy during periods of low customer demand for use at peak demand periods, such as the early morning or evening hours.
The batteries will also provide grid and ancillary services and enable the grid to accommodate more renewable sources while displacing conventional generation.
“We have completed several successful solar and storage projects in Hawaii,” said Todd Lindstrom, Chief Operating Officer at BayWa r.e. Power Solutions.
“We’re excited to support Hawaii’s renewable energy leadership in the U.S. and about the growing relationships we have with the local community.
“We look forward to bringing more renewable energy solutions to the island as we grow.”
BayWa r.e. Power Solutions (formerly Enable Energy) is a solar and energy storage EPC provider in the US commercial, industrial and utility sectors, with experience and an active pipeline in the solar and storage markets in Hawaii.