2 new renewable projects would bring Garden Isle close to 80% renewable energy within 3 years

Two new solar-plus-battery-storage projects being pursued by Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative would bring the Garden Isle close to 80% renewable energy before the end of this decade.

The projects also are expected to account for a total of 35% to 40% of the island’s electric cooperative’s annual energy production and generate enough electricity to power more than 30,000 Kauaʻi homes.

They will have an even greater effect on the pocketbooks of cooperative members, projected to save them a combined total of nearly $800 million throughout the next quarter of a century.

“Our board of directors has set an aggressive goal of reaching 100% renewable by 2033,” said Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative President and Chief Executive Officer David Bissell. “Successful completion of these projects will allow us to progress towards achieving the state of Hawaiʻi mandate 12 years ahead of schedule.”

The two would be developed by AES Hawaiʻi — a global energy company that touts itself as creating greener, smarter and innovative energy solutions — under power purchase agreements submitted to the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission for approval.

Mānā Solar + Storage

• Amount and type of power produced: 35 megawatts/solar
• Storage capacity: 4 hours
• Estimated average annual dispatchable renewable energy: 86,000 megawatt hours
• Length of proposed power purchase agreement: 25 years

The Mānā Solar + Storage project is proposed to be located on land owned by the Agribusiness Development Corporation on the Mānā Plain, displacing the use of 5.9 million gallons of diesel per year.

At a price of $0.127 per kilowatt-hour, it is estimated to save Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative members $6.4 million in its first year of operation, with a cumulative total estimated savings of $370 million throughout the life of its proposed power purchase agreement.

Ka mana o ka lā o Kaʻawanui (Kaʻahanui Solar + Storage)

• Amount and type of power produced: 43 megawatts/solar
• Storage capacity: 4 hours
• Estimated average annual dispatchable renewable energy: More than 100,000 megawatt hours
• Length of proposed power purchase agreement: 25 years

The Kaʻahanui Solar + Storage is proposed to be located on land managed by Gay & Robinson Inc. in Makaweli, displacing the use of 12.9 million gallons of diesel per year.

At a price of $0.1334 per kilowatt-hour, it is estimated to save Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative members $7 million in the first year of operation, with a cumulative total estimated savings of $429 million throughout the life of its proposed power purchase agreement.

“We’ve already experienced significant rate stabilization over the past 5 years due to the high percentage of power generation from renewable projects on fixed-price [power purchase agreements],” Bissell said. “Our rates have gone from being the highest in the state by a large margin to among the lowest in just 20 years. With these projects, we’ll be essentially buffered from oil-price volatility.”

AES Hawaiʻi looks forward to continuing its successful collaboration with Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.

“These innovative projects will provide Kauaʻi residents with affordable, reliable power while substantially accelerating progress toward our state’s clean energy goals,” said AES Hawaiʻi Director of Development Nick Molinari.

Brad Rockwell, Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative’s chief of operations, said the energy company has been a reliable partner since 2019 and 2021 when the electric cooperative brought AES renewable energy facilities online in Lāwaʻi and at the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands.

“Assuming no delays in obtaining all necessary permits and approvals, we believe these projects can come online as early as 2028,” said Rockwell about the proposed Mānā Solar + Storage and Kaʻahanui Solar + Storage facilities.