Maui Electric Company is seeking proposals for Variable Renewable Dispatchable Generation Paired with Energy Storage (RFP) for the Company's system on the island of Lanai. This RFP solicits competitive bids for renewable energy generation projects combined with battery energy storage systems to meet the utility's resource needs on Lanai.
Proposers must submit proposals through PowerAdvocate, an electronic procurement platform. The submission deadline for standard proposals was Friday, January 31, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST). Company self-build proposals and affiliate proposals were required to be submitted by Thursday, January 30, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. HST.
The RFP process included several key milestones: a pre-recorded webinar conference held on December 11, 2019; site visits on December 18, 2019, at the Pulama Site and Company's Miki Basin switchyard location from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (HST); and Q&A sessions addressing proposer inquiries. On January 14, 2020, the Company announced a postponement to re-evaluate the scope and schedule based on announced plans by Pulama Lanai to remove the Four Seasons Resort properties from the grid. A draft revised RFP was submitted to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on March 10, 2020, with the Commission issuing Order No. 37063 on April 6, 2020, extending the PUC review period by 60 days through June 8, 2020, with a final RFP refiling deadline of June 16, 2020.
Proposals should align with the Model PPA templates provided for either photovoltaic with battery energy storage systems (PV+BESS) or wind generation with battery energy storage systems (Wind+BESS) configurations. All questions or concerns regarding the RFP must be submitted via the PowerAdvocate Messaging tab.