Next stage of renewable energy projects for Maui to be discussed at July 14 virtual meeting
Release Date: 7/6/2022
KAHULUI, July 6, 2022 – As part of ongoing efforts to replace fossil-fuel generation on Maui, Hawaiian Electric will share and address community input received on its draft request for proposals (RFP) seeking a potential variety of renewable energy projects during a virtual community meeting on Thursday, July 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Participants can join via Microsoft Teams at hawaiianelectric.com/communitymeetings, Hawaiian Electric’s Facebook page, or tune in to Akaku channel 54. The meeting will be recorded. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback during the meeting. Questions can be sent in advance to mauirenewablerfp@hawaiianelectric.com.
In May, Hawaiian Electric submitted the draft RFP for at least 180 gigawatt hours annually of renewable dispatchable energy and at least 40 megawatts of renewable firm capacity on Maui. The company also hosted a previous Maui community meeting to review and collect community comments on the draft RFP. This meeting can be viewed at hawaiianelectric.com/communitymeetings.
Once the draft is approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the company will seek proposals as part of a competitive-bidding process for wide array of renewable energy and capacity resources on Maui that includes but is not limited to wind, solar, biomass and biofuels. Standalone energy storage proposals also will be accepted.
This draft RFP is the first to procure firm renewable capacity to broaden and ensure Maui has a diverse future mix of generation resources. Unlike variable renewables, such as solar and wind, firm renewable energy is available on-demand at all times.
In 2018, Hawaiian Electric began the first phase of Hawaii’s largest procurement for renewable energy resources to meet the state’s 100% renewable portfolio standard requirement. The second phase of procurement started in 2019 and was among the largest single renewable energy procurements undertaken by a U.S. utility. From those first two phases of RFPs, over 400 megawatts of variable renewable energy and roughly 2 gigawatt hours per year of energy storage are in development and expected to be in service by 2024 on Maui and Oahu.
Upon approval from the PUC, this third stage of renewable energy procurement will be open to bids from energy developers locally and globally. Pending approval by the PUC, the first projects are expected to come online no later than the end of 2027.
