Hawaii Electric Light Co. has signed an agreement to buy electricity that will be generated from the expansion of Ormat Technologies’ geothermal plant on the Big Island.

Ormat is adding an additional eight megawatts of generating capacity to the 30-megawatt plant operated by its subsidiary, Puna Geothermal Venture Inc. The expansion is nearly complete and is expected to begin supplying power to the grid by the third quarter, HELCO said in a news release.

The power purchase agreement is is subject to approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.

“Our continued partnership will help us reach our clean energy goals even sooner,” said Jay
Ignacio, Hawaii Electric Light Company president.