Alexander & Baldwin (A & B) and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), have declared their design to build a 6 MW solar photovoltaic power generating plant on the south shore of Kaua‘i Island.
The solar power generation facility will be developed and operated by a subsidiary company of A&B. KIUC has contracted a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy the power generated from the facility at a fixed rate for a period of 20 years.
The proposed solar power development is planned over a 20-acre land earmarked for industrial development and possessed by A&B facility. The land remains close to the Port Allen Station power plant of KIUC. The solar plant area is located in one of the places that receive the highest level of solar radiation in Kaua’i. Application for the solar development has already been made to the county and state authorities. Subject to receipt of approval from the authorities, the construction of the project is anticipated to commence in the last part of 2011 and get completed before the end of the year 2012.
The 6 MW solar power generation facility will incorporate polycrystalline solar panels. The solar facility will include a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) erected by KIUC kept before the actual grid connectivity. The power generated from the facility will give significant stability to the system by maintaining an even flow of power supply to the grid.
According to David Bissell, President & Chief Executive Officer of KIUC, the proposed facility when completed will remain the largest facility on Kaua’i and will benefit its members for 20 years at a fixed rate that does not get affected by the cost of power generation or supply of fossil fuel oil.