Hawaiian Electric Submits Largest-Ever Energy Procurement Proposal
On July 27, Hawaiian Electric submitted its Integrated Grid Planning Request for Proposals (IGP RFP) to the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC), seeking renewable energy and energy storage projects for Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, and Maui, while also planning to add 500 megawatts (MW) of base-load power on Oʻahu. This marks one of the largest energy procurements in the state’s history, designed to meet rising electricity demand, modernize aging power generation infrastructure, and reduce reliance on oil-fired generation to lower customer costs.
Scott Seu, President and CEO of Hawaiian Electric, stated that Hawaiʻi must accelerate its transition to renewable energy. The competitive bidding process will evaluate all viable options to build an energy portfolio that balances efficiency, reliability, and lower carbon emissions at the lowest possible cost. Seu emphasized that this initiative will deliver tangible benefits to Hawaiʻi’s residents, rather than distant, unattainable goals.
Surging Demand on Oʻahu Drives Need for 500 MW of Base-Load Power
With a population of nearly one million, Oʻahu accounts for over 70% of the state’s electricity consumption. As transportation and industrial electrification accelerate, the island’s electricity demand is growing at its fastest pace in two decades. To ensure grid stability, Hawaiian Electric plans to add 500 MW of base-load power on Oʻahu. The company remains open to evaluating diverse energy solutions, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) for power generation, but all options must undergo a transparent, rigorous, and independent review by the PUC.