61st largest plant in Hawaii · 9100th nationally
Puueo is a hydroelectric power plant in Hawaii with a nameplate capacity of 3.1 MW. It generates roughly 5.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 523 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 20% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Puueo |
|---|---|
| Operator | Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc |
| City | Hilo |
| County | Hawaii County |
| State | Hawaii |
| ZIP | 96720 |
| Coordinates | 19.72640, -155.09080 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2A | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.4 MW | Operating | 2005 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.5 MW | Retired | 1941 |
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.7 MW | Operating | 1918 |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.