A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced nanophosphate lithium-ion batteries and systems, is supplying an 11 MW energy-storage system to Sempra Generation for the Auwahi Wind project in Maui, Hawaii.

The company says the energy-storage system is designed to smooth variable wind power generation, which is expected to help maintain the stability of Maui's electric grid.

When fully operational, the 21 MW Auwahi Wind project is expected to be capable of generating enough energy to power the equivalent of 10,000 homes. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a 20-year contract for Maui Electric Co. to purchase the electricity produced from the wind farm.

‘We believe that wind-rich locations like Hawaii represent a significant opportunity for energy storage, especially as project developers and utilities continue to understand that storage has the capability to help maximize production and reduce the challenges associated with the variability of wind power generation,’ notes Robert Johnson, vice president of A123's Energy Solutions Group.