Puna Geothermal Venture back online after 2½ years, sends power to Hawai‘i Island grid

Puna Geothermal Venture back online after 2½ years,
sends power to Hawai‘i Island grid
HILO, Nov. 12, 2020 – Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) has begun supplying electricity to the
Hawaiʻi Island grid, two and a half years after the eruption of the Kīlauea volcano put it out of
operation.
The delivery of electricity from the geothermal facility, one of the largest and most reliable
renewable energy resources in the state, began on Nov. 5. Testing will take place over several
weeks with production gradually increasing. Before the eruption, the plant produced 38
megawatts, representing about 15 percent of the island’s firm generation capacity.
The return of PGV increases Hawaiian Electric’s generation reserve margins, ensuring there is
electricity available for periods of high demand when other generators are out of service for
maintenance.
Resilience and reliability have also been enhanced by new transmission lines that connect the
PGV facility to the grid. The new lines are attached to steel and wood poles that meet upgraded
design and resilience standards. The cost of repairs was paid by PGV’s owner, Ormat
Technologies, Inc., and its insurers, not utility customers.
With PGV back online, Hawaiian Electric can further reduce the use of fossil fuels to generate
electricity. Before shutting down in May 2018, PGV helped Hawaiʻi Island achieve the state’s
highest renewable energy percentage, close to 60 percent. Without PGV in service, the island’s
renewable percentage in 2019 was 35 percent.
PGV’s return to service will have little immediate impact on electric bills since oil prices have
fallen significantly since its shutdown. The typical November bill for a residential customer on
Hawaiʻi Island using 500 kilowatt-hours is $163.74, down from $181.76 in November 2019.
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