Ameresco, an energy efficiency and renewable energy firm, said construction work has begun to construct the Kūpono Solar Project in Hawaii, US.
It held a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony with Bright Canyon Energy, a developer of energy infrastructure.
This combined solar and battery storage system will be built at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam West Loch Annex, the company said. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2024.
Once operational, the project is designed to deliver 42 MW of energy to Hawaiian Electric’s grid on the island of O‘ahu.
The site covers some 131 acres of federal land and will feature the installation of a 42 MW photovoltaic solar array and a 42 MW/168 MWh (four-hour duration) lithium-ion battery storage system.
The batteries are designed to store solar energy beyond sunset hours, enabling the project to deliver energy to approximately 10,000 homes on O‘ahu.
Ameresco and Bright Canyon Energy established a joint venture in 2021 to advance the Kūpono Solar Project, its first project.
Kūpono Solar will own and operate this solar and battery project under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric.
