The state Public Utilities Commission approved three solar projects that have the combined capacity to power more than 17,900 homes.

HECO said today it expects the facilities, which will be built and operated by NRG Energy, Inc., to be in service no later than 2019.

The projects include: a 49-megawatt facility near Waialua called Kawailoa Solar, a 45.9-megawatt facility near Waiawa called Waipio Solar, and a 14.7-megawatt facility near Mililani called Lanikuhana Solar.

At peak, the projects will be providing roughly 110 megawatts to HECO’s system.

HECO submitted an application in April with the PUC to buy power from NRG’s 49-megawatt Kawailoa Solar farm for 11 cents a kilowatt-hour. The contract is for 22 years.

NRG will sell solar power produced at its 14.7-megawatt Lanikuhana Solar plant to HECO for 11.4 cents a kilowatt-hour and for 10.4 cents a kilowatt-hour from the 45.9-megawatt Waipio Solar.

HECO said the facilities will help increase its renewable portfolio progress by 3 percentage points.