US wholesale power generation company NRG Energy Inc. in partnership with the Hawaiian Electric Company, Kamehameha Schools and others, has broken ground on three grid-scale solar power projects on the island of O’ahu. The projects at Kawailoa, Waipi‘o and Mililani total 110 MW. The facility being built for NRG by Moss & Associates »is the largest block of grid-scale solar power ever installed in Hawai’i,« says the company.

The 49 MW Kawailoa Solar will use over a half million solar panels and be the largest solar project in the state, sited on former sugar cane land owned by Kamehameha Schools. Adjacent to the state’s largest wind farm, Kawailoa Solar will share existing roads, switching and transmission lines. NRG will work with local ranchers to allow them to graze sheep at the project site. Kawailoa will host students in renewable energy education programs in partnership with Blue Planet Foundation and Kamehameha Schools.

The 45.9 MW Waipi‘o Solar project will consist of over 160,000 panels on former cattle pasture owned by NRG in Central O‘ahu. The Waipi‘o project will also be open to sheep grazing during operations, helping to manage vegetation while supporting local agriculture.

The 14.7 MW Mililani Solar II project will use over 150,000 solar panels and be constructed on former pineapple land, now owned by NRG. Located within the Mililani Agricultural Park, the project will operate alongside active farming operations.

All the power generated by the Hawai‘i Solar Project sites will go into the Hawaiian Electric grid. NRG expects to have all three projects completed in 2019. Hawai‘i targets 100 percent clean, renewable energy for electricity by 2045.