Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar+Storage
  • Solar Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractors Corner
      • Innovators and Influencers
      • Installation Practices
      • Folsom Labs Solar Boot-Up
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Products
    • 2018 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • Manufacturing Locations
  • Leadership
    • 2018 Winners
    • 2017 Winners
  • Subscribe
  • Solar Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Solar Battery Models
    • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
    • Solar Inverter Models
    • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
    • Solar Panel Models
    • Solar Racking Models
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers

Maui brings second-ever large-scale solar array online

By Kelly Pickerel | October 9, 2018

In partnership with Kenyon Energy, Maui Electric Company is pleased to announce that Maui’s second large-scale solar PV project came online Oct. 4, 2018. Maui Electric is buying power from the Ku‘ia Solar project in West Maui which is independently owned and operated by Kenyon Energy.

The 10.85-acre project, located on land owned by Kamehameha Schools in Lahaina, can offer up to 2.87 MW of solar power to Maui Electric’s grid at 11.06 cents per kilowatt-hour. Maui Electric does not mark up or take a profit from this purchased power, passing the savings directly to Maui customers.

“We’re pleased to be able to partner with the community, area landowners, renewable energy developers, and local policy and government leaders in adding more clean energy to power Maui,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric. “Securing stable, more cost-effective renewable energy through new large-scale renewable resources benefits all of our customers over the life of these major projects.”

Financing for Kenyon Energy’s South Maui project was provided by Key Equipment Finance through its Energy Solutions team. Maui Electric is also purchasing power from another Kenyon Energy project, South Maui Renewable Resources, which came online in May. Bay4 Energy has been selected to provide ongoing asset management and operating services for both projects while M+W Energy served as the EPC provider for both projects.

“We are very pleased to partner again with Maui Electric, Key Equipment Finance, and M+W Energy to complete another groundbreaking solar energy project,” said Clay Biddinger, chairman and CEO of Kenyon Energy. “Creating tangible economic and environmental benefits for Maui’s citizens and local businesses is at the heart of Kenyon Energy’s core values. We will continue to develop and operate renewable energy projects like this throughout Hawai‘i, including the acquisition of renewable energy projects from other solar partners.”

Kamehameha Schools’ lands are home to projects that produce nearly 100 megawatts of renewable energy statewide. “Ku‘ia Solar provides opportunities for Kamehameha Schools to steward these lands in a way that reduces Hawaiʻi’s dependence on fossil fuels while bringing ʻāina-based learning to haumāna (students) in the region through collaboration and innovation while fulfilling our mission to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians through education,” said Kā‘eo Duarte, Kamehameha Schools’ vice president for community engagement and resources.

Currently, Maui County has a renewable energy portfolio of 34% – ahead of the state’s target of 30% renewable energy by 2020. On some days, a significant portion of the electricity used on Maui comes from large grid-scale and privately-owned renewables, such as wind, hydro, biofuels, and nearly 12,000 rooftop solar systems. In June 2017, Maui Electric reached a peak of 77% of its power coming from renewable energy resources.

Providing power to nearly 70,000 customers on Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i, Maui Electric continues to support Maui Nui’s evolving and growing energy landscape since 1921. Today, Maui Electric, along with the Hawaiian Electric and Hawai‘i Electric Light family of companies, is working to provide more reliable, clean and affordable energy to power the islands.

Founded in 1887 by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable Native Hawaiian trust committed to improving the capability and well-being of our people through education. Income generated from its endowment portfolio of commercial real estate and other diverse investments funds more than 96 percent of KS’ educational mission.

News item from Maui Electric

About The Author

Kelly Pickerel

Kelly Pickerel is editor in chief of Solar Power World.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

Sunpin Solar signs 75-MW PPA with Direct Energy Business
Energy Impact Partners invests $20 million in Palmetto Clean Technology
Report finds new fracking projects would derail New Jersey’s clean energy goals
Shell acquires sonnen to expand clean energy offerings

Stay Informed With Great Solar Power Content

Videos Podcasts Webinars Whitepapers

Solar Power World Digital Editions

Solar Power World Digital EditionBrowse the current issue and archived issues of Solar Power World in an easy-to-use, high-quality format. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading solar construction magazine today.

Solar Panel Locations

Click to see the manufacturing locations of the industry’s most popular solar panel brands.

Search Now >

Popular Posts See More >

News flash: Solar works in cold weather
Common battery types used in solar+storage
10 disruptive battery technologies trying to compete with lithium-ion
Old solar panels get second life in repurposing and recycling markets

Sponsored Content

  • The cost of charging a Tesla and how it compares to gas vehicles
  • Why your power bill is so expensive and how to make it cheaper
  • In 2019, how much do solar panels cost in Salt Lake City?
  • Don’t spend more money than you need to: use Cut My Bill
  • Auxiliary power solutions for 1,500-Vdc photovoltaic systems
Tweets by @SolarPowerWorld
Solar Power World
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar Articles
  • Top Products
  • Leadership
  • WTWH Media
  • About Solar Power World
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe
  • Windpower Engineering & Development

Copyright © 2019 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar+Storage
  • Solar Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractors Corner
      • Innovators and Influencers
      • Installation Practices
      • Folsom Labs Solar Boot-Up
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Products
    • 2018 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • Manufacturing Locations
  • Leadership
    • 2018 Winners
    • 2017 Winners
  • Subscribe
  • Solar Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Solar Battery Models
    • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
    • Solar Inverter Models
    • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
    • Solar Panel Models
    • Solar Racking Models
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers