Summary
Ameresco and Bright Canyon Energy (BCE) established a joint venture known as Kūpono Solar to focus on renewable energy, energy security and resiliency on O‘ahu. In support of a Department of Defense (DoD) long-term energy security initiative, Kūpono Solar signed a 37-year land lease with the U.S. Navy and will provide critical energy upgrades. The lease provides the use of approximately 131 acres of underutilized lands within the Navy West Loch Annex of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in O’ahu, HI. The project is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2024.
“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 Energy Generation Capacity
~131 Acres
Underutilized Navy land
168 MWh
Energy Storage Capacity
10,000 Homes
Clean Energy Generation Capacity
Customer Benefits
In addition to providing local residents with clean, renewable energy, Kūpono Solar is expected to reduce more than 50,000 tons of CO2 from Hawaii’s environment and expected to deliver the following benefits:
- Align with state of HI’s goal of 100% renewable energy and carbon neutral by 2045
- Stabilize cost of energy for HECO customers
- Deliver annual carbon emission offset equivalent of 12,000 cars
- Support DoD’s long-term energy security initiative
- Boost local employment and business economy
- Create a healthier place for HI residents to live, work, and play
Solution
With combined experience of 20 years of developing renewable energy and infrastructure systems in Hawai’i, Ameresco and BCE are developing a large scale solar and battery energy storage system that will be designed to deliver sustainable, renewable energy to the local utility, Hawaiian Electric (HECO)’s grid. Kūpono Solar is expected to power approximately 10,000 homes on O‘ahu while putting underutilized land to long-term, sustainable use.
- 42 MW solar array
- 42 MW / 168 MWh (four-hour duration) of lithium-ion battery storage system
- Batteries designed to store solar energy beyond sunset hours
