HONOLULU — Hawaiian Electric is seeking bidders to provide one or more large-scale energy storage systems on Oahu.
The utility says it needs energy storage because wind and solar power generation has grown dramatically. It says energy storage would help it ride through sudden fluctuations in the availability of wind and solar-generated power.
More than 11 percent of Hawaiian Electric customers have solar panels on their homes. Oahu also has several large-scale wind and solar power projects generating electricity.
Hawaiian Electric said Friday the systems should be able to store 60 to 200 megawatts for up to 30 minutes.
The deadline for proposals is July 21. Bidders must aim to have the energy storage system in service in the first quarter of 2017.