New renewable energy project in Kauaʻi will power 16,000 homes annually

A new solar-plus-storage project will significantly contribute to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s plans to achieve 100% renewable generation.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission has approved AES Hawai‘i’s Ka‘awanui Solar project, which will power the equivalent of more than 16,000 homes annually with clean, locally produced energy and meet approximately 17.5% of Kaua‘i’s energy needs.

More than 179 million gallons of fossil fuel will be offset over its 25-year lifespan, avoiding 2.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The project, located on land owned by Robinson Family Partners and managed by Gay & Robinson Inc. in Makaweli, will include a 43-megawatt photovoltaic array paired with four hours of battery storage capacity that can store up to 172 megawatt-hours of electricity for use during non-solar periods.

“Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative routinely operates at 100% renewable on sunny days,” said David Bissell, president and CEO of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative. “Our main challenge in reaching the state’s mandate of 100% renewable by 2045 is eliminating our fossil fuel use during non-solar periods. Projects like this are critical to reaching that goal.”

In addition to the climate benefits, the Ka‘awanui Solar project is expected to provide an estimated $365 million in savings to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative over the 25-year fixed-price power purchase agreement with AES. The savings for residential customers in the first year is estimated at $4.26 per month, increasing to an estimated $21.08 per month in the final year of the 25-year term.

The State Division of Consumer Advocacy supports the Public Utilities Commission’s decision due to the anticipated benefits to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative customers, including monthly bill savings, decreased fossil use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and increased reliability and energy resiliency with the addition of a firm-like resource.

To interconnect the project with Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s grid, a new switchyard will be constructed adjacent to the Ka‘awanui Solar project, enabling Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative to decommission both the Kaumakani and Kekaha substations.

The project will also include a compatible agriculture component, and AES expects to partner with a local Kaua‘i-based company with expertise in land stewardship, ranching, and sustainable practices to co-locate agricultural activities on-site.

“Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative has set and continues to meet aggressive renewable energy goals well ahead of state-mandated targets and at a pace that leads the state in reaching the ultimate goal of 100% renewable,” said Senate President Ron Kouchi. “I am very pleased that the Public Utilities Commission and the Consumer Advocate have worked with Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative to issue timely approval, so the project can be completed in a way that will bring maximum benefit to the cooperative’s members while also supporting our agricultural goals for Kaua‘i.”

This will be the third renewable energy project developed by AES for Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative. In 2019, AES and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative made history by bringing online the Lāwa‘i Solar + Storage Project, which was the largest operational solar and energy storage system in the world at the time.

AES Hawai‘i is committed to engaging with the community throughout the project’s lifespan. Open houses were held for Pākalā, Ka‘awanui, and Kaumakani villages, and a public community meeting was held in Hanapēpē in September 2025, where dozens of residents asked questions and learned more about the project.

To learn more about AES Hawai‘i’s Ka‘awanui Solar project, visit the AES Hawaiʻi website.