The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Kahuku Wind Power and Hawaiian Electric Co. in order for the utility to purchase energy from the 30 MW wind energy project, which is slated 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.
Located west of the town of Kahuku, the wind energy project will consist of 12 Clipper Liberty wind turbines, each having 2.5 MW 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 battery storage system has been developed by Xtreme Power Inc. and will be the largest of its kind in Hawaii. 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.
SOURCE: First Wind  Â
