Kapaia Power Station — United States of America
Other power plant in Hawaii, United States of America. Approximate location 21.9965, -159.3758.
OtherHawaiiUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
Kapaia Power Station is a 39.1 MW other power plant in Hawaii, United States of America. It is operated by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Based on reported annual generation of 174 GWh, it can supply roughly 50k homes. It ranks #3980 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 25,680 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 6.0k cars driven for a year. In context, the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0056258.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 39.1 MW, Kapaia Power Station is well above the median other plant in United States of America (22 MW). This facility converts its energy source into electricity for the grid; its capacity, fuel type and location determine its role in the national power mix.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~25,680 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 51%, from 174 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 50% median for 14 other plants in United States of America
- Generation trend
- 182 GWh in 2016 and 174 GWh in 2019 (−4%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 192 GWh; 2019: 174 GWh
- Share of United States of America other capacity
- 5.7% of 681 MW across 19 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 11 of 16 dated other plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
Local climate & thermal context
This other plant generates electricity for the grid. It sits in a tropical savanna climate (Köppen As) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 22.0°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #7 largest other power plant of 19 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 19 other power plants in this dataset, together about 681 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- KIUC Kapaia PV and BA Storage Project Hybrid · Solar · 28 MW · Hawaii
- Biomass to Energy Facility Kauai · Waste · 10.3 MW · Hawaii
- Kapaa Photovoltaic Project · Solar · 1 MW · Hawaii
- KRS II Koloa Solar · Solar · 12 MW · Hawaii
- AES LAWAI SOLAR Hybrid · Storage · 40 MW · Hawaii
- KRS I Anahola Solar Hybrid · Solar · 18 MW · Hawaii
Location
Coordinates 21.9965, -159.3758 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Kapaia Power Station?
Kapaia Power Station is a 39.1 MW other power plant in Hawaii, United States of America, commissioned in 2002.
How much electricity does Kapaia Power Station generate?
Kapaia Power Station generates about 174 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Kapaia Power Station?
Kapaia Power Station is operated by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
How much CO₂ does Kapaia Power Station emit?
Kapaia Power Station has modelled emissions of about 25,680 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).