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FAQS about Hawaii Electric Energy Storage System

Will a storage battery help Hawaiian Electric deal with over-generation?

A storage battery project has not yet proven its effectiveness at scale, according to Bob Rudd, the chief commercial officer at Plus Power. The battery's capacity will help address the issue of clean energy curtailment, also known as over-generation, for Hawaiian Electric, Rudd said.

What makes Kapolei the most advanced battery energy storage facility?

Plus Power located the project near a substation connected to three other power plants so the battery “can be AAA to jump-start those other plants,” Keefe said. The combination of all these abilities in one site — capacity, grid services, black start — leads Keefe to call Kapolei “the most advanced battery energy storage facility on the planet.”

Does Hawaiian Electric have a 'black-start capability'?

Hawaiian Electric’s modeling suggests it can reduce curtailment of renewables by an estimated 69% for the first five years thanks to Kapolei Energy Storage, allowing surplus clean electricity that would otherwise go to waste to get onto the grid. The utility also requested “black-start capability.”

What is the 185 MW / 565 MWh battery storage project?

The 185 MW / 565 MWh battery storage project provides load shifting and fast-frequency response services to Hawaiian Electric, enhancing grid reliability and accelerating the integration of readily available renewable energy. KES received approval from the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission in May 2021.

Will Hawaiian Electric's new battery plant save customers money?

According to Hawaiian Electric, the project will save customers money. The Hawaiian Electric filing for KES estimated it will reduce electric bills by an average of $0.28 per month over a 20-year contract life. The battery plant's specifications include:

What is Kapolei energy storage?

The Kapolei Energy Storage facility on Oahu. "This is a landmark milestone in the transition to clean energy," said Brandon Keefe, Plus Power's Executive Chairman. "It's the first time a battery has been used by a major utility to balance the grid: providing fast frequency response, synthetic inertia, and black start.