Hawaiian Electric reaches key milestones in effort to modernize Waiau Power Plant
Orders placed for new turbines, transformers
Release Date: 6/3/2026
HONOLULU, June 3, 2026 – Hawaiian Electric has reached key milestones in its ongoing effort to modernize its Waiau Power Plant by replacing six aging, steam generators with smaller, efficient aeroderivative combustion turbine units. The project, approved by the Public Utilities Commission in March, is on schedule for the first two units to be in commercial operation in 2029, with subsequent units coming online in 2031 and 2033.
Hawaiian Electric has placed orders and made down payments on key pieces of equipment, including the replacement aeroderivative combustion turbines from GE Vernova, and transformers. These units are in high demand as utilities around the world retire coal-fired power plants and increase output for data centers and other large industrial users.
“There’s a backlog for these units and securing our place in line is critical for keeping the project on schedule,” said Mike DeCaprio, Hawaiian Electric vice president of power supply. “This is the most significant modernization of the Oahu generation infrastructure in decades and it will strengthen the reliability and resilience of our system while supporting the integration of more renewable resources like solar and energy storage.”
Plans are being finalized to remove equipment from two retired generating units within the plant, with demolition expected to begin by the end of the year. The company is also in the process of conducting detailed engineering by industry leader Burns & McDonnell and solidifying construction contracts with respected local firm APB Construction Corp.
When complete, the project will add 252 megawatts of firm power to ensure reliable service when variable resources like wind and solar aren’t available. The new generating units will be smaller, fuel-flexible aeroderivative combustion turbines that run quieter and more efficiently and produce lower carbon emissions. They can operate on a variety of liquid fuels, including biofuels, and can be converted to run on liquefied natural gas if it becomes available.
The project will leverage the current land footprint of Waiau Power Plant and reuse much of the existing infrastructure, which reduces cost and minimizes community impact. For three years, Hawaiian Electric has engaged residents of the surrounding area to understand the scope of the project and also to develop a community benefits package, which provides annual payments to communities that host new projects once they come online.
