The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Kahuku Wind Power and Hawaiian Electric Company for the utility to purchase renewable energy to be produced by the 30MW wind energy project to be constructed on Oahu’s North Shore.
Under the terms of the contract, Kahuku Wind Power, a subsidiary of
Massachusetts-based First Wind, will sell as-available renewable energy
to Hawaiian Electric at pre-determined prices over 20 years. The wind
energy project will consist of 12 Clipper Liberty wind turbines each
having 2.5MW capacity. Kahuku Wind Power will also include a battery
energy storage system to assist in meeting performance standards and
smoothing fluctuations in wind energy output. The project will also
include a microwave communication system to connect the wind energy
project to the Hawaiian Electric system operations and dispatch center.
Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.
