Construction contractor Hensel Phelps, alongside infrastructure firm Sustainability Partners and the State of Hawai’i Department of Transportation (HDOT), have begun construction on two new microgrid projects in the Aloha State.

Located on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, the two projects include solar canopies, battery storage systems, and EV charging stations. Officials say they expect the projects to generate 2.2 MWh of renewable energy every day, and will include two 1 MW battery systems.

These projects are part of a broader mission for HDOT and the state of Hawaii as a whole, to modernize the region’s infrastructure and advance its renewable energy and grid resiliency goals.

“These projects represent another important step in strengthening the resiliency of Hawaiʻi’s infrastructure,” says Ed Sniffen, director of the Hawai’i Department of Transportation. “These PV and battery storage systems provide critical energy security for our teams during severe weather and multi-day blackouts.”

Serving HDOT’s energy needs

The microgrid on O’ahu will serve HDOT Highways’ Oʻahu District Main Office Facility, near downtown Honolulu. The project will produce about 1.5 MWh of renewable energy every day, and store an extra 1 MW inside its battery storage system.

In addition to solar and storage, the project will include more than 40 Level 2 Chargers and 1 Dual-Port 200 kWdc Fast Charger, officials say. Sustainability Partners is also working with Hawaiian Electric toward open enrollment in its Energy Export program, which would allow the microgrid to give power back to the wider grid of the Rainbow State.

Slightly smaller, the Kaua’i microgrid will serve the department’s Kauaʻi District Main Office Facility. The site includes a 1 MW battery storage system, as well as PV canopies that will generate up to 700 kWh of renewable energy per day and a set of 13 EV charging ports.

“Getting to construction on the Oʻahu and Kauaʻi microgrids represents years of planning, engineering, and coordination with HDOT Highways, Hensel Phelps, our utility partners, and many others,” says Arnold Albiar, managing partner of Hawaiʻi at Sustainability Partners. “These microgrids are about developing resilient and sustainable transportation systems, helping the State of Hawaiʻi move forward to a cleaner, low-carbon future.”

Hensel Phelps will lead construction on both projects, consulting with HDOT and Sustainability partners for transportation and energy infrastructure. The companies also received Hawaiian Blessing ceremonies at the beginning of construction, “showing respect for the land, the communities, and the people the infrastructure will serve.”

“Being able to begin these projects with a Hawaiian Blessing is especially meaningful,” Albiar adds. “We are grateful for the HDOT’s continued trust. We are proud to deliver infrastructure projects that will benefit Hawaiʻi’s communities for years to come.”

Tags: Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Transportation, Hensel Phelps, Microgrid, projects, Sustainability Partners