AES Hawai‘i Drives Sustainable Energy Transition with Storage and Power Technologies

AES Hawai‘i, located in Waikoloa, is a power plant that has provided electricity to the islands for decades but has had to rely heavily on fossil fuels, due to Hawaii’s remote location.

With the goal of reducing carbon emissions and promoting energy sustainability on the island, AES Hawai‘i sought Hitachi Energy’s collaboration to implement renewable energy and storage technologies. Waikoloa faced significant energy challenges, including a high dependence on imported fossil fuels and a lack of infrastructure to harness renewable energy sources. Additionally, the island was exposed to the impacts of climate change and sought to reduce its carbon footprint.

The project began with a thorough assessment of energy needs and an analysis of efficient transition options. AES Hawai‘i and Hitachi Energy designed a customized solution, incorporating a combination of renewable technologies and energy storage systems adapted to local conditions. Solar panels and wind turbines were installed to generate clean energy, backed by advanced storage technology.

Together we implemented specific solutions to achieve AES’ goal:

• Solar panel installation: Hitachi Energy designed and installed a set of solar panels at the AES Hawai‘i plant to capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity.
• Energy storage technology: To address the challenge of solar energy intermittency, advanced energy storage systems were implemented.
• Integration into smart grids: We developed a smart grid infrastructure that allows efficient management of the energy generated by the plant.

AES Hawai‘i and Hitachi Energy collaborated to transform the Waikoloa Power Plant from a fossil fuel-dependent facility to a sustainable and resilient energy source.

The transformation focused on clean energy generation as well as energy efficiency. AES Hawai‘i worked with Hitachi Energy to implement infrastructure improvements, optimized power distribution, load management technologies, and energy conservation practices. These measures reduced energy consumption and improved the plant’s operational efficiency, ensuring a stable energy supply for Waikoloa.

The project significantly decreased the community’s dependence on fossil fuels, reducing environmental impact and improving energy resilience, and it highlighted the important role that renewable energy and storage solutions play in driving the overall sustainability of Waikoloa and Hawai‘i.