BayWa r.e. has been chosen by the AES Corp. to construct the Waikoloa Solar + Storage Project, an integrated solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system owned and operated by AES on Hawaiʻi Island. BayWa r.e. Power Solutions will construct the 30 MW AC/43MW DC solar and 30/120 MWh storage projects on approximately 300 acres of leased property near Waikoloa Village, South Kohala district.
Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. (HECO), will buy the power generated by the Waikoloa Solar + Storage Project. This agreement (PPA) is a 25-year cost-competitive power purchase arrangement (PPA). On completion, the project will produce enough electricity to power 13,600 households, contributing more than 7% of Hawaiʻi Island’s annual energy needs and resulting in a total avoided fuel consumption of more than 511,000 barrels of oil over its 25-year lifetime.
Site preparation and construction began after permits were obtained. The project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, 2022. 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 $47 million toward Hawaiʻi’s economy.
The solar section of the project will include single-axis trackers that are equipped with bifacial photovoltaic modules. The associated lithium battery system will store energy safely during periods of low customer demand and be available for peak demand periods like the early morning or late evening hours. The batteries will also be used to provide grid and ancillary service, allowing the grid to accommodate more renewable sources and displace conventional generation.
“We have completed several successful solar and storage projects in Hawai’i,” says Todd Lindstrom, COO at BayWa r.e. Power Solutions LLC. “We’re excited to support Hawaiʻi’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.”