News

HELCO files draft RFP for another 50 MW for Hawaii Island

HELCO files draft RFP for another 50 MW for Hawaii Island Puna Geothermal Power Plant, Big Island, Hawaii (source: betterplace.com)
Alexander Richter 12 Nov 2012

Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) has officially filed draft RFP for adding 50 MW of geothermal power generation capacity to Hawaii Island.

The Hawaii Electric Light Company has now filed a draft Geothermal Request for Proposals (RFP) with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, to add up to 50 MW of geothermal power generation capacity.

The company says it received 20 responses to an Request for Information in June 2011, to determine the best way to pursue geothermal development on Hawaii Island.

The price of the additional 50 MW will – so the company’s press release from last week – not be tied to the supply cost of oil. This is done to keep electricity costs for consumers lower.

“The RFP is pursuing geothermal technologies that provide renewable dispatchable energy and firm capacity, which means that the utility would be able to schedule and control output from the geothermal plant. This will also provide firm back up for other renewable resources such as wind or solar to help maintain reliable service for Hawaii Island customers.”, so the company in the statement.

The bidders “must provide a preliminary environmental assessment of the site, which includes the identification and analysis of

potential short and long term impacts associated with the Project – including direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts associated with construction, operation, and maintenance.”

Bidders must also “identify a detailed plan for community outreach and communications with respect to the proposed Facility, which must include the Bidder’s plan for working with the community during exploration, development, and construction to provide information and to address community issues.”

“The final draft of this Geothermal Request for Proposals is planned to be issued on January 2013. According to the HELCO website, the utility hopes to submit executed Power Purchase Agreement that result from this RFP process for PUC approval in March or April of 2014.”

Details about the RFP can be found at Helcohi.com under the competitive bidding section of the company’s website

The Draft RFP (pdf)

Interested parties (including prospective bidders) may submit comments on the Draft Geothermal RFP to the HELCO Geothermal RFP email at GeothermalRFP@helcohi.com and to the PUC. The proposed tentative date for the technical conference webinar is Wednesday, December 5, 2012.

Source: Big Island Video News, Helco Competitive Bidding