Hawaiian Electric and Forest City Hawaii have contracted a power purchase agreement to trade 1 MW of solar power to be produced at the Kapolei, Oahu, located Kapolei Sustainable Energy Park.
Polysilicon deposition process - Pic courtesy Hoku Corp
Hoku Solar, an auxiliary of Hoku , has been entrusted the job of designing and installing over 4,200 solar panels on a concrete racking system. The solar facility, which is anticipating becoming functional by the year end, is awaiting the approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.
The proposed 12-acre site for installation is located close to the James Campbell Industrial Park and was maintained as an industrial disposal site till 1986. The dumping at the site was stopped under an issued regulation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the site was first covered under a plastic liner and then by a bulky mass of asphalt. The site was kept unused to retain the asphalt cap undisturbed and James Campbell suggested its use for the installation of a solar plant. The site, which was not usable for most of the developments on receiving the approval will host solar panels that will be erected directly over the surface to generate power. The proposed novel use of the site depicts the renewable energy generation requirements of the state.
Hoku Solar, based-in Honolulu provides asset management services for solar installations, turnkey type of solar PV integration, project development services and solar power projects suitable for investment. The company is engaged in large level utility level solar markets as an EPC service provider as well as a project developer.