Kapolei Energy Storage (KES) is ideally located on roughly eight acres of land in Kapolei on the island of Oahu, where it interconnects at a critical Hawaiian Electric substation. The 185 MW / 565 MWh battery storage project provides load shifting and fast-frequency response services to Hawaiian Electric, enhancing grid reliability and accelerating the integration of readily available renewable energy. KES received approval from the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission in May 2021. The Kapolei Energy Storage facility is now online.

The KES project helps replace the AES coal-fired plant that closed on September 1, 2022 and supports the state’s goal of shifting from fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2045. The KES project received unanimous support from the local Neighborhood Board and approval of its Conditional Use Permit-Minor from the City and County of Honolulu. Situated in I-2 (Industrial) zoning outside the Tsunami Evacuation Zone, the KES project site is an optimal location for new energy infrastructure.