Summary
To address the growing need for energy security on the island of O’ahu, Ameresco partnered with Hawaiian Electric (HECO), the U.S. Navy, and the O’ahu community to develop the Kūpono Solar Project. As the largest solar and BESS facility on the island, Kūpono Solar is designed to deliver 42 MW of clean, renewable energy to the local grid. Ameresco owns and operates the facility, sited on approximately 131 acres of land at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in a 37-year land lease with the U.S. Navy.
“This enables us to put 131 acres of underutilized land to long-term, sustainable use for Hawai’i at a time when the cost and reliability of worldwide energy supplies is of great concern. The project reflects the Navy’s core commitment to energy security and resiliency for America.”
– Capt. Randall E. Harmeyer
Public Works Officer, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
42MW
Solar PV
~131 Acres
Underutilized Navy land
168 MWh
Battery Energy Storage Systems
50,000
Metric Tons/Year Estimated
CO2 Emissions Reduction
Customer Benefits
In addition to providing local residents with clean, renewable energy during both the day and night, Kūpono Solar helps addresses the growing need for energy resilience, reliability and affordability on the island. The project is designed to deliver the following benefits:
- Reduce dependence on fossil fuels and create a pathway to increased energy independence
- Provide energy security and stabilize cost of energy for HECO customers
- Reduce 50,000+ tons of CO2 annually from Hawaii’s environment —the equivalent to offsetting emissions from 12,000 cars every year
- Align with city, county, and HI state goals of 100% renewable energy and carbon neutral by 2045
- Support DoD’s long-term energy security initiative
- Provide philanthropic support of community through organizations, charities and education
- Create local construction jobs and boost economy through purchase of local materials
- Environmental stewardship:
- Discovered and relocated 500,000+ bees for pollination and honey production
- Use of 200 sheep to graze on the Kūpono Solar land
Solution
Ameresco developed, constructed, owns and operates the large scale solar and battery energy storage system facility on O’ahu designed to deliver reliable, renewable energy to HECO’s grid. Kūpono Solar is expected to power approximately 10,000 homes on O‘ahu and puts land to long-term, sustainable use.
- 42 MW solar array
- 42 MW / 168 MWh BESS (four-hour duration)
- Battery storage enables renewable energy to be dispatched after sunset, when it’s needed the most during peak evening hours
- Integrated system generates, stores, and delivers reliable clean energy to the local grid
