Hawaiian Electric to deactivate 226 MW of oil-fired power generation

Hawaiian Electric plans to deactivate several oil-fired power generation units, including the Honolulu Power Plant, by 2016 as part of the utility’s five-year plan filed with the state’s Public Utilities Commission.

Hawaiian Electric plans to deactivate several oil-fired power generation units, including the Honolulu Power Plant, by 2016 as part of the utility’s five-year plan filed with the state’s Public Utilities Commission. The retirement of the units, equaling a total of 226 MW, will be replaced by renewable energy sources.

The utility will deactivate the Honolulu Power Plant and two of the four units at Maui’s Kahului Power Plant by 2014 and two generators at Oahu’s Waiau Power Plant by 2016. All four units at the Kahului Power Plant would be fully retired by 2019, according to Hawaiian Electric.

The company has already deactivated Hawaii Island’s Shipman Port, which will be retired in 2014.

The company also said Hawaii is well on its way to surpassing its renewable energy goals and intends to lower customers’ costs by accelerating the development of low-cost utility-scale solar and wind projects. Hawaiian Electric recently asked the state Public Utilities Commission for permission to negotiate with five proposed renewable energy projects to provide electricity for Oahu.

The company also intends to convert or replace units that are not deactivated to use low-cost, cleaner fuels, including biomass, biofuel and liquefied natural gas, as well as increase the capability of utility grids to accept customer-sited renewable generation such as roof-top solar systems and develop smart grids to integrate more renewable energy and allow customers to better control their electric bills.

Read more O&M news