Saft awards a contract by Kauai Island Utility Co-operative (KIUC) to provide a Li-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) consisting of 8 Intensium Max 20 M containers to stabilize the Kauai island electrical grid. Saft’s BESS will be deployed for use as part of a new 12 MW solar energy park under construction in Anahola.

KIUC is the only franchised provider of electric service to its consumers on the Island of Kauai, the fourth largest inhabited island in Hawaii. The island is home to 65,000 with an economy based on tourism and agriculture. KIUC is a standalone, vertically-integrated electric utility, and as such, provides all of the facilities, equipment and personnel required to meet the power generation, transmission, and retail distribution needs of its consumers. KIUC’s all-time peak load is 78MW, serving approximately 35,000 meters through 13 substations from three active generating sites.

The cooperative is working to reinvent how Kauai is powered and aggressively pursuing diversification of its energy portfolio to include a growing percentage of hydropower, photovoltaic, biofuel and biomass. KIUC is building the new $50 million solar energy park in partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Homestead Community Development Corp.

Saft’s BESS will be used to provide stability and mitigate issues caused by intermittent fluctuations that can occur with renewable power sources. As part of the agreement, Saft will provide 6MW/4.63MWh BESS consisting of 8 Intensium Max 20 M containers and two containers housing an ABB 6MW PCS to stabilize the electrical grid. This contract positions Saft as the preeminent supplier of battery energy storage solutions in Hawaii.

The system will also regulate the distribution bus voltage, serve as spinning reserve and provide frequency support during the loss of generation by pooling and integrating with other distributed KIUC BESS sources. Deliveries for the contract are set to begin in October.

“With other BESS contracts in the works, this agreement is indicative of the expanding renewables market relying on Li-ion energy storage within island nations, and Saft’s leadership in enabling trusted storage solutions for solar integration,” said Blake Frye, Vice President of Sales and Energy Storage at Saft. “Saft looks forward to strengthening electric grid applications in the state of Hawaii and serving as a long-term, trusted partner.”