Kaiwiki Solar

Utility-scale solar and battery storage power plant
Development Project
Proposed Kaiwiki Area

Project Overview

Kaiwiki Solar is a thoughtfully-sited 55 MW photovoltaic facility with a 4-hour battery (220 MWh) that will provide low-cost renewable energy to the grid under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with HELCO. The project sells clean energy at a fixed annual price and will provide clean energy to the grid after the sun goes down when demand for electricity peaks.

Community Outreach

Clearway is proactively informing and engaging with neighboring communities and stakeholders about the project scope, the project benefits, the development and governmental process, as well providing the community with timely information throughout all phases of the Kaiwiki Solar project, giving the community an opportunity to engage and weigh-in on the project. Clearway plans to connect with the community through early talk story meetings with community members as well as Town Hall meetings, presentations to neighborhood boards, and other outreach channels as the project progresses.

Community Benefit Package

Investing in the Community

Community Benefit Fund

  • The community benefit funds will be spent on local projects, donated to local non-profits, and directed by the community, with a focus on education, community empowerment, and workforce development.

Restorative Development and Agriculture

  • Other in-kind contributions to the community will include the availability of lands for agriculture at dramatically discounted rents (typically $1/acre) to support local agriculture and local agricultural workforce development.

Lower Costs & Reliable Power

  • Providing a fixed price of power contributing to reduced rate volatility;
  • Providing battery energy storage that provides resiliency to the grid and allows the projects to continue providing solar energy to the grid after the sun goes down when loads peak.

See Clearway’s Community Engagement in Hawaii page for more details.

Project Site Maps

Click to enlarge images
Project Location
Clearway Kaiwiki Location Map
Site Map - Kaiwiki 55 MW Project (Proposed and Conceptual)

Environmental Compliance and Permitting Plan

Kaiwiki Solar has been designed with careful consideration of the permitting requirements related to the land use of the project site, as well as the potential environmental, biological, archeological, cultural and aesthetic impacts. The current conceptual design is both well-informed and adaptable. The site plan takes into account grading, drainage, civil, utilities, access, and lot coverage.

As with our other projects, Clearway will actively engage with community stakeholders including the nearby community and neighborhood associations, to solicit feedback on our site and design and provide project information through open house meetings and informal updates at regularly scheduled district meetings. In doing so, we will proactively answer questions from the community to ensure a streamlined agency review process.

Tangible Emissions Impact

This 55 MW Solar Project Would Replace Fossil Fuels Equivalent to

2.1B
Pounds of coal burned
4.4B
Barrels of oil consumed
4.8B
Miles driven by average gas-powered passenger vehicle
5.7M
Gallons of gasoline consumed
Over the 20 year PPA term of this project. Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator | US EPA

Tell us what you think

We want to hear from you. Please submit your feedback, ideas, and comments on the Kaiwiki Solar project.

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Aerial view of Hilo Hawaii