Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and BP Wind Energy have announced that the 21MW Auwahi wind farm is now fully operational.
Construction of this wind park took nine months to complete, and it consists of eight turbines mounted on the southeast ridge of Maui’s Haleakala volcano.
This wind farm is capable of powering up to 10,000 Maui homes, and its electricity will be purchased by Maui Electric Company under a twenty-year contract.
This wind farm uses a 4.4MWh (440,000kWh) battery bank to buffer wind power when wind speeds fluctuate, and to back up the farm during low-wind periods.
“We are very pleased to complete construction of Auwahi Wind, both on time and on budget,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, president and CEO of Sempra U.S. Gas & Power. “The addition of new, clean energy from our project will be a boost for Maui’s infrastructure and will help Hawaii achieve its goal of securing 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. This project could not have been built without the enthusiastic support of the local community, the Ulupalakua Ranch, and neighbors who recognize the importance of sustainable energy.”
“Innovation is a big part of what Sempra U.S. Gas & Power brings to all of our projects,” Martin said. “The battery storage component of Auwahi Wind includes state-of-the-art monitoring and safety controls, which will help maximize the benefit that the Maui Electric Company and its customers receive from this project.”
“BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power have been terrific partners,” said Sumner Erdman, president of Ulupalakua Ranch. “The Auwahi project protects the environment, maximizes wind as a renewable energy resource and allows us to maintain the rural open space and grazing areas necessary for us to raise our cattle.”
Source: Occupational Health and Safety
Photo Credit: dannysullivan
