First Wind has started construction of its 30MW Kahuku Wind project in Oahu, Hawaii.
The project will consist of 12 2.5MW Clipper Liberty wind turbines and will generate enough energy to power up to 7,700 Oahu homes a year.
It will include a battery energy storage system to help the site meet performance standards and smooth fluctuations in wind energy output as well as a communications system to connect the wind energy project to Hawaiian Electric’s system operations and dispatch centre.
In early May the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Kahuku Wind Power and Hawaiian Electric for the utility to purchase renewable energy to be produced by the Kahuku Wind project.
As part of the PPA, First Wind will sell as-available renewable energy from the project to Hawaiian Electric at pre-determined prices over 20 years, providing a hedge against fluctuating oil prices.
Boston-based First Wind is an independent energy company exclusively focused on the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of utility-scale wind projects in the US.
