Hawaiian Electric has chosen a developer for a proposed renewable energy project on Maui, as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce Hawaii’s reliance on imported oil for power generation. The 40-megawatt (MW) biofuel-powered generator, known as ʻUkiu Energy, is being developed by Ameresco Inc. and aims to contribute to Hawaii’s clean energy goals while providing reliable power to the grid.
Unlike variable resources like solar and wind, firm resources are available at all times. The proposed facility will be constructed on a 10-acre plot of land owned by Hawaiian Electric in Waena, near the Central Maui Landfill and Refuse and Recycling Center on Pūlehu Road.
The Maui project is part of the latest round of clean energy procurement, which includes a total of 16 firm and variable renewable energy projects selected on Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu. Additionally, three solar-plus-storage projects and one wind project were selected for Maui.
Hawaiian Electric will now enter contract negotiations with the chosen project developers, who will engage in community outreach efforts in the areas where they plan to build. In a new requirement, developers were asked to submit community outreach and benefit plans, which were evaluated alongside technical and financial criteria.
Once contracts are finalized, they will be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review and approval. At that time, more information regarding pricing and the impact on bills will be disclosed. The selection process was conducted under the supervision of an Independent Observer and Independent Engineer, appointed by the PUC to ensure fair and objective evaluation of all proposals, including those from Hawaiian Electric.
These projects are the result of a procurement initiative started by Hawaiian Electric in May 2022 for Oahu and Maui, and in November 2021 for Hawaii Island. For a comprehensive list of the selected projects and links to their respective websites, visit the Renewable Project Status Board page on Hawaiian Electric’s website at hawaiianelectric.com/statusboard.
