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Hawaiian Electric Company offers wind data to renewable developers

For more information at HECO:
Darren Pai: 808-543-7753

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2007

(Honolulu) – Hawaiian Electric Company is making available, free of charge to any interested wind energy developer, data collected about wind conditions and bird activities in the Kahuku area of Oahu’s North Shore.

“While it is unusual for a package of valuable data to be offered for free, we want to do all we can to help encourage more renewable energy in Hawaii,” said Karl Stahlkopf, Hawaiian Electric Senior Vice President of Energy Solutions and Chief Technology Officer.  “This is especially important on Oahu where we have the most customers but lack availability of some of the renewable resources found on the Neighbor Islands – such as geothermal and run-of-the-river hydro.  Hawaiian Electric has diligently pursued wind resource assessment on Oahu, and we want to share the data.”

The initial package includes wind data collected at different Kahuku sites in the 1980s and in 2007, along with an avian radar study.  All information is made available on an “as is” basis without warranties.  After signing a registration form and non-exclusive license, the interested developer will be sent the first of two CDs.  The second CD, with additional wind data, will be offered in the spring of 2008. 

Forms may be requested from the HECO Contact:

Mary Ellen Nordyke-Grace
Director, Energy Analysis
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
Ph. 808/543-4885
Fax. 808/203-1425
E-mail:  maryellen.nordykegrace@heco.com

  CD #1 DESCRIPTION

 1.  Historic Wind Monitoring Data.  This is a HECO archived database of raw meteorological wind data collected in 1985 and 1986 at the U.S. Department of Energy’s 3.2 MW MOD 5B wind turbine demonstration site located in the hills above Kahuku, on the North Shore of Oahu.  The measurements were taken on the Site 1611 Meteorological (Met) Tower for horizontal wind speed at 182 feet, horizontal wind speed at 310 feet, vertical wind speed at 310 feet, and temperature (estimated at 33 feet).  Coordinates for the Site 1611 Met Tower:  Latitude = 21 °, 40 ', 52.08 ''; Longitude = 157 °, 59 ', 16.01 ''; site elevation = approx. 360 feet.  See the descriptive file included in this database for detailed measurement specifications and caveats.
 2.  Communication Tower Wind Monitoring Data
This is a database of wind data collected from March 2007 through October 2007 at the HECO “M2” wind monitoring station sited on a communication tower (FCC Tower Registration Number 1026419) located on Army lands in the hills above Kahuku (Kahuku Training Area) on the North Shore of Oahu.   Raw wind data (mean wind speed (meters/second) (m/s), wind direction, and ambient temperature) and  monthly summaries of the wind data, including key wind statistics and wind speed and direction distributions (developed by AWS Truewind), are provided. Site coordinates:  Latitude 21° 39.95', Longitude 175° 59.983'; site elevation: 326 m.  Wind speed monitoring heights:  (1) 60 m (primary)/59.8 m (redundant), (2) 47.7 m (primary)/47.5 m (redundant), and (3) 36.4 m (primary)/ 36.2 m (redundant).  Wind direction heights: (1) 60 m and (2) 36.4 m.
 3.  Avian Radar Study, Final Report
Report entitled “Endangered Bird and Bat Surveys at the Proposed Kahuku Wind Resource Area on O’ahu, Hawai’i,” July 9, 2007, prepared by Hamer Environmental, L.P. for HECO through its environmental consultant, Planning Solutions, Inc.   Results of one week field survey conducted from May 2, 2007 to May 9, 2007.

 

CD #2 DESCRIPTION (to be made available in March 2008)

 1.  Communication Tower Wind Monitoring Data. 
This is a database of wind data to be collected from November 2007 through February 2008 (thus completing a 12-month monitoring program – see above) at the HECO “M2” wind monitoring station sited on a communication tower (FCC Tower Registration Number 1026419) located on Army lands in the hills above Kahuku (Kahuku Training Area) on the North Shore of Oahu.   Raw wind data (mean wind speed (meters/second) (m/s), wind direction, and ambient temperature) and monthly summaries of the wind data, including key wind statistics and wind speed and direction distributions (developed by AWS Truewind), are provided.  Site coordinates: Latitude 21° 39.95', Longitude 175° 59.983'; site elevation: 326 m.  Wind speed monitoring heights:  (1) 60 m (primary)/59.8 m (redundant), (2) 47.7 m (primary)/47.5 m (redundant), and (3) 36.4 m (primary)/ 36.2 m (redundant).  Wind direction heights: (1) 60 m and (2) 36.4 m.

 

Note:  HECO offers the above Data “as is” and there are no expressed or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.  Any use of the Kahuku Data shall be at the user’s own risk.  See Warranties and Disclaimer included with the Data.   

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