Tesla Megapacks arrive in Hawaii with the state’s final coal shipment as part of the state’s transition to a sustainable energy economy, as reported by Electrek.
It must be noted that Hawaii already has the largest solar capacity installed per capita. It also intends to achieve 100% green energy by 2045. Considering that the sun does not constantly shine, the state must balance all of that renewable energy with energy storage capacity.
In order to contribute to achieving the 2045 target, Tesla has been rolling out its batteries in the state for years already. In fact, Tesla is collaborating with Hawaiian Electric on massive new battery systems along with a virtual power plant driven by Powerwalls.
In retrospect, it was reported earlier this year that Tesla is launching Megapacks at a new energy storage facility in Hawaii that is expected to be operational by September 2022. Notably, this is expected to displace the state’s only surviving coal plant.
The coal power plant is utilized to maintain grid frequency. This is what Tesla’s energy storage devices have proved capable of, and that is what Kapolei Energy Storage facility (KES) intends to achieve in addition to receiving surplus solar power during the day and discharging it at night.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced today through a Twitter post that several Megapacks for the projects arrived the same time Hawaii acquired its last coal shipment.
The coal cargo arrived at a port near the KES. As seen on Musk’s Twitter post, it contained a photo that shows that additional recently arrived Megapacks are ready to be installed.
With 185 megawatts/ 565 megawatt-hours capacity, the Kapolei Energy Storage facility (KES) is projected to be one of the world’s largest battery systems. Notably, it is a collaboration between Plus Power and Hawaiian Electric.
In addition, Plus Power opted to run the system using Tesla Megapacks. There will be 158 Megapacks in total.
“Here, today, on Oahu, Plus Power and Hawaiian Electric are sending a postcard from the future,” said Plus Power Lead Developer Bob Rudd at a ground blessing ceremony last year. “I’m certain that someday we’ll all look back, when there are dozens of projects just like KES on the mainland and all across the world, and we’ll think, ‘We were there. Hawaii showed the world how to do it first.'”
Tesla and its partners are apparently under some pressure to complete the project on time, as the coal plant is reportedly about to begin burning its last cargo of coal.
