Development Team Projects

Under the Competitive Bidding Framework rules approved by the PUC, Hawaiian Electric may propose "self-build" projects – developed, constructed and owned by the utility – to meet generation and/or capacity needs across its service territories. The self-build projects are led by the Hawaiian Electric Development Team.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

In response to the August 2019 Request for Proposals, Hawaiian Electric submitted its own proposals to develop grid-tied battery energy storage systems (BESS). Two of five projects were selected by the RFP team on May 11, 2020: the Maui (Waena) and Hawaii Island (Keahole) BESS. The Hawaii Island project was withdrawn in 2024.

To learn more about battery energy storage systems, read our FAQs (PDF) and check out this short video.

Please see below for details on the proposed Maui battery energy storage system (BESS).

Maui County

On Maui, new renewable generation and storage is needed for the planned retirement of Kahului Power Plant. Hawaiian Electric proposes to build a load-shifting BESS on its property near the Central Maui landfill. The PUC application for the project was filed on Sept. 8, 2020 with comments received through a virtual community meeting and during two public comment periods. On June 24, 2022, the PUC issued a Decision & Order for additional information. On Aug. 22, 2022, the Development Team filed its response. To learn more, please go to the PUC Document Management System, https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/search, Docket #2020-0132.

	Waena
Project Summary & Community Outreach Plan	Read the Waena summary & plan (PDF)
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Size / Capability	40 MW / 160 MWh (4 hr)
Type of BESS	Load-shifting
Land	Hawaiian Electric industrial zone
Virtual Public Mtg	Watch the Facebook video broadcast of the interactive virtual public meeting held on April 8, 2020
View the Presentation	View a video presentation on the Maui BESS project with narration by Jack Shriver, Director, Generation Project Development.
Environmental Compliance	Read the Waena site Environmental Compliance Plan (PDF)
Comments / Questions	Email Maui BESS