The company says that it has chosen Tesla Energy after conducting an extensive study of competitive offering in the market.
According to the company, the project is the first utility-scale system in the US which can provide dispatchable solar energy, which will ensure electricity supply when it is needed, even hours after sunset.
The battery pack provided by Tesla Energy is a 52MWh Powerpack lithium-ion battery storage system that will feed up to 13 megawatts of electricity onto the grid to reduce the amount of conventional power generation needed to meet peak demand during evening times between 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
With the use of solar energy stored in batteries, the dependency on diesel generators and imported fuels for the KIUC will be reduced significantly.
Under the terms of the contract announced in September 2015, the amount to be paid to SolarCity by KIUC is also less when compared to the two other existing 12 megawatt solar arrays at KIUC, which only produce power during the day.
The cost is actually 14.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
The array and battery storage facility will be built on 50 acres of land owned by Gove Farm Company beside KIUC’s Kapaia power station off Ma’alo Road, just north of Lihu’e.
The required state and county approvals for the project have already been received which it is awaiting approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.
KIUC and SolarCity are seeking accelerated timetable to review the project so that the construction can begin, as per schedule in April and to be operational by the end of 2016.
