The Honolulu energy consulting firm, RP Delio & Co plans to develop one of the first multi-source microgrid projects in Hawaii through the use of solar, wind, hydroelectric and battery storage technologies on an existing organic fruit, vegetable, fish and nut aquaponics farm.
The $500,000 East Kauai project already has a 20-kilowatt solar and small wind project, which is under an old feed-in tariff program that allows owners of energy producing projects to sell electricity to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative at fixed rates for a period of 20 years. KIUC does not have a FIT program anymore.
The farm’s 80-kilowatt expansion includes adding up to 20-kilowatts of power through the use of up to a couple more small wind turbines, solar photovoltaic canopies, battery storage, an electric vehicle charging station, and four solar trackers. Delio has submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help fund about 25 percent of the cost of the project. The special funding is earmarked for renewable energy projects being developed on operating farms.
The Kauai project, which just finished up its design, is scheduled to be in service later this year. (Source: Pacific Business News)