KOLOA — Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative took a step closer toward renewable energy sources, lessening the island’s dependence on oil, Friday with the dedication of its battery energy storage system its the Koloa substation. Mike Yamane, KIUC Chief of Operations,
KOLOA — Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative took a step closer toward renewable energy sources, lessening the island’s dependence on oil, Friday with the dedication of its battery energy storage system its the Koloa substation.
Mike Yamane, KIUC Chief of Operations, said the Koloa system is the first of three KIUC has scheduled. The Koloa system has a rating of 1.5 megawatts with a 2.25 MW short-term overload rating.
The storage system will allow KIUC to smooth the power output from photovoltaic projects by providing real and reactive power, compensating for sudden output fluctuations in a matter of milliseconds, states a KIUC release.
The result is for a more predictable flow of power from the PV system to KIUC’s electrical grid and will give KIUC the ability to respond to other system events, such as loss of generation and system faults.
Yamane said for their customers, this means fewer blackouts due to loss of power, adding that since the system was put online in October, it has supported the grid on several occasions.
“This is the cornerstone of the transformation of the grid to more renewable energy sources,” Yamane said.
KIUC signed a contract in January with Xtreme Power Inc. to purchase a utility-scale battery system and Xtreme Power’s Dynamic Power Resources installed and placed in operation the Koloa system.
Yamane said that simply stated, power from the battery system which is direct current, is converted to alternating current, and stepped up through a transformer before being incorporated into the grid through the substation.
All connections between the battery, the control center and the substation are underground.
The addition of the battery energy storage system will help mitigate the power delivery of a 3 MW photovoltaic project, which will also feed into Koloa, the release states.
In support of KIUC’s commitment to incorporate greater amounts of renewable energy, KIUC management and staff sought solutions to effectively integrate large, intermittent generation resources into its system as necessary to remain consistent with the co-op’s strategic goals and initiatives.
Government leaders praised the project as a step toward renewable energy sources and lessening the dependence on oil.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, represented by Ron Sakoda, said in a letter, “We cannot continue to subject Hawai‘i to a dependence on oil and commend the leaders of KIUC on taking this step.”
Phil Tacbian, chair of the KIUC board, said the system is similar to one the board visited in Fairbanks, Alaska, several years ago.
“The one in Alaska is about 20 times bigger,” Tacbian said. “As we enter the new era of renewable energy sources, it’s good to see this online.”
That was echoed by Dennis Esaki, representing Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has renewable energy and sustainability as one of his “New Day” initiatives.
Larry Dill, representing Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., similarly said Carvalho has this as part of his Holo Holo 2020 vision, while Kaua‘i County Council Chair Jay Furfaro said the blessing is an actual picture of progress being made after working with KIUC leaders.
State Sen. Ron Kouchi, outlining some background leading to the blessing, simply said, “This is fantastic, this is great.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
