Lalamilo Wells

Lalamilo Wells
Country United States
Location South Kohala, Hawaii County, Hawaii
Coordinates 19°59′15″N 155°45′56″W / 19.98750°N 155.76556°W / 19.98750; -155.76556Coordinates: 19°59′15″N 155°45′56″W / 19.98750°N 155.76556°W / 19.98750; -155.76556
Status Decommissioned
Commission date 1985 (1985)
Decommission date 2010 (2010)
Owner(s) Hawaiian Electric Company
Wind farm
Type Onshore
Avg. site elevation 1,273 ft (388 m)
Site usage Pasture
Site area 0.2 sq mi (1 km2)
Power generation
Units operational 0
Make and model Jacobs
Units decommissioned 120

Lalamilo Wells is a wind farm on the island of Hawaii. It is located within the ahupuaʻa (ancient land division) called Lalamilo,[1] between the coastal area known as Puako, Hawaii, and the inland towns of Waimea and Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. It was commissioned in 1985 with 39 17.5 kW Jacobs wind turbines and 81 20 kW Jacobs wind turbines, yielding a total capacity of 2.3 MW.[2]

Starting in January 2006, the electric utility operating the wind farm, Hawaiian Electric Company (HELCO), operated a demonstration model of a grid-stabilizing unit, known as an Electronic Shock Absorber (ESA). This unit was designed to increase the stability of the island's grid, which has a relatively high penetration of wind energy, which is subject to rapid fluctuations.[3] However, the unit was damaged in an earthquake in October 2006.[4]

Repowering

By 2010 the turbines were antiquated; only two-thirds were still in operation. The farm was decommissioned that year in anticipation of replacing the turbines with more efficient modern models.

Lalamilo Wind Company was awarded the contract to repower and operate the wind farm. They plan to install five Vestas V47/660 kW turbines that together would have a generating capacity of 3.3 MW. Commercial operation is intended to begin in late 2015 or early 2016.[5][6][7]

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lalamilo
  2. ↑ "History of Wind Energy Projects in Hawaii". State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  3. ↑ IEEE Spectrum: Taking Wind Mainstream
  4. ↑ HECO > Energy Storage Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Windmills We Have Known and Loved" (PDF). Powerlines. Hawaiian Electric Company (3): 9. 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Yager, Bret (26 June 2014). "County Plans Wind Farm to Power Water Wells". West Hawaii Today. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii: Oahu Publications. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Stewart, Colin (11 July 2014). "South Kohala Wind Farm Could Restart". Tribune-Herald. Hilo, Hawaii: Oahu Publications. Retrieved 15 February 2015.


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