Energy Secretary Hails New Wind Project

From Ventura Country Star  July 27, 2010

A wind farm planned for windward Oahu is using innovative technology and could set an example for other U.S. wind farms, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday.

Kahuku Wind Power LLC will use batteries to store energy generated by the farm’s wind turbines. The system will allow the wind farm to deliver a steady supply of power to the local utility - Hawaiian Electric Co. - even as wind levels fluctuate.

The wind farm, expected to be finished late this year or early next year, is also due to use advanced wind turbine generators.

“The project could be an example for wind developers across the country to follow,” Chu said during a conference call with news media.

His remarks came the same day the Department of Energy finalized a $117 million loan guarantee for Kahuku Wind Power for the construction of the farm.

Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind Holdings, Kahuku Wind’s parent company, said commercial lenders and investors haven’t been willing to fund the new battery technology. This means Kahuku Wind couldn’t be built without the loan guarantee.

The wind farm’s 30 megawatt power plant is designed to supply electricity to about 7,700 households. It’s expected to create about 200 jobs.

Gaynor said the battery technology would allow Kahuku Wind to provide power even when wind levels dropped.

“What the battery does is provide a bridge, it fills in the gap,” Gaynor said.

This is especially useful on islands like Oahu, where electricity grids are self-contained and not connected to larger grids nearby.

Chu said larger grids have enough elasticity and power generation so they generally don’t need batteries to smooth out the supply of power from wind farms.

The secretary said the battery technology would be useful on islands and in remote communities in western Alaska that also have their own isolated power grids.

The batteries could also be used by large grids if those grids rely on wind for more than 20 percent of their power. Currently, however, wind power is not used on such a large scale.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, whose district encompasses Kahuku, hailed the loan guarantee.

“This will really put us on the forefront on energy development and the science behind energy,” Hirono said.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said the project would bring much-needed jobs to Hawaii.

“We want to become part of the nation’s move to create green jobs, and this will do exactly that,” said Inouye, D-Hawaii.