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.

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

Please see below for details on each proposed battery energy storage system (BESS), by island:

Maui County

On Maui, new renewable generation and storage is needed for the planned retirement of Kahului Power Plant by the end of 2024. 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 the PUC Document Management System, https://dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms/, 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

Hawaii Island

On Hawaii Island, Hawaiian Electric proposes to build a contingency battery storage system at its substation in Keahole to support reliable operations. The PUC application for the project was filed on Aug. 28, 2020 with comments received during a virtual community meeting and during two public comment periods. The docket was suspended by the PUC on July 27, 2022. The suspension was lifted on Feb. 22, 2023, and the docket is currently pending PUC approval. To learn more, go to: https://dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms/, Docket #2020-0127.

	Keahole
Project Summary & Community Outreach Plan	Read the Keahole summary & plan (PDF)
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Size / Capability	12 MW / 12 MWh (1 hr)
Type of BESS	Contingency
Land	Hawaiian Electric industrial zone
Virtual Public Mtg	An interactive virtual public meeting was held on April 15, 2020.
View the Presentation	View a video presentation on the Keahole project narrated by Darren Elisaga and Len Nakano of Hawaiian Electric's Hawaii Island utility operations.
Environmental Compliance	Read the Keahole site Environmental Compliance Plan (PDF)