HONOLULU, May 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To meet
its goal of adding more renewable generation to the Oahu grid, Hawaiian Electric Company (Hawaiian
Electric), subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:
HE) is seeking proposals for one or more large-scale energy storage
systems able to store 60 to 200 megawatts for up to 30 minutes.
Potential bidders are asked for proposals that include engineering,
procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, start-up and
performance verification.
With the continuing dramatic growth on Oahu of utility-scale wind and solar projects
and rooftop solar now in use by more than 11 percent of Hawaiian
Electric customers, energy storage is needed to help ride through
sudden changes in availability of these variable resources. When
power supplied by these resources drops suddenly, energy storage
systems could help maintain reliable service and avoid customer
outages as fast-starting firm generation units are brought
online.
"Energy storage is one of the key missing elements in
integrating high levels of renewable energy from variable sources
like solar and wind," said Colton
Ching, Hawaiian Electric vice president for energy
delivery.
Energy storage can provide not only electricity but also
so-called "auxiliary services" to operate the grid, such as
sub-second frequency response (near-instantaneous changes to keep
power quality at 60-hertz) and minute-to-minute load following
(power output adjustments as demand for electricity fluctuates
throughout the day).
Potential contractors will be evaluated on the overall cost of
their proposals and non-price factors such as design concept and
feasibility, implementation and operational viability and operating
flexibility. Bidders are invited to propose the best available
technologies, including batteries, mechanical flywheels,
capacitors, compressed gas systems, pumped hydro storage or a
combination of such technologies.
Any project selected with a cost of $2.5
million or more must be reviewed and approved by the Hawai'i
Public Utilities Commission with input from the Consumer
Advocate. The target is to complete and file energy storage
agreements with the PUC by the end of 2014. Bidders must provide a
schedule with the goal of having the energy storage system in
service in the first quarter of 2017.
The deadline for proposals is July 21,
2014. The complete request for proposals may be reviewed at
www.hawaiianelectric.com/energystorage. Inquiries from qualified
bidders may be sent to PurchasingED@hawaiianelectric.com.
Information: Peter Rosegg, 808-543-7780
peter.rosegg@hawaiianelectric.com
For institutional investor inquiries:
Shelee Kimura, 808 543-7384
skimura@hei.com
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SOURCE Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.