46th largest plant in Hawaii · 5615th nationally
Wailuku River Hydroelectric is a hydroelectric power plant in Hawaii with a nameplate capacity of 10.4 MW. It generates roughly 20.3k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,936 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 22% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Wailuku River Hydroelectric |
|---|---|
| Operator | Wailuku Holding Company Llc |
| City | Hilo |
| County | Hawaii County |
| State | Hawaii |
| ZIP | 96720 |
| Coordinates | 19.71299, -155.14857 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8101 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 5.2 MW | Operating | 1993 |
| 8102 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 5.2 MW | Operating | 1993 |
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.