Latest renewable energy news

Teaming Up to Grow Algae for Biofuel on Maui

High-tech start-up HR BioPetroleum, Maui landowner Alexander & Baldwin, and Hawaiian Electric and Maui Electric companies are partnering to grow algae for biofuel on Maui. The plan is to create a commercial-scale algae facility to produce oil for conversion to biodiesel and other valuable products, such as animal feed on land adjacent to the Ma’alaea Power Plant.

Microalgae have significant potential as an energy crop, with the prospect for very high levels of oil production per acre. When combined with other vegetable-oil crops that could be grown locally, such as jatropha or palm, algae could help meet the biodiesel feedstock for biodiesel on Maui, which now fuels about 85 percent of its combustion generation with petroleum diesel.

When combined with other vegetable-oil crops that could be grown locally, such as palm or jatropha, algae could meet the biodiesel feedstock requirements of the proposed BlueEarth biodiesel processing plant on Maui, in which Hawaiian Electric is also a partner. The BlueEarth facility is expected to be in operation in early 2010.

Under the agreements:

Construction of the commercial microalgae facility will depend on factors that include confirmation of algae performance data from HRBP’s demonstration facilities; required regulatory approvals; project financing; and the signing of final agreements among HR BioPetroleum, Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Alexander & Baldwin. Assuming these succeed as planned, the first phase of the commercial facility could be in operation by 2011.

More information about HR BioPetroleum.

Learn more about biofuels’ opportunities and challenges.

Hawaiian Electric joins the photovoltaic surge in Hawaii

With the blessing of its new 217 kV photovoltaic array on the Archer Substation at its Ward Avenue facility, Hawaiian Electric has joined in the tremendous growth of renewable solar electricity (photovoltaics) in Hawaii. This is the first utility-scale PV installation for Hawaiian Electric, joining a variety of companies and a few residences across the islands that have added this renewable energy solution to their portfolio. The installation – built, owned and operated by Hoku Solar, a division of Hoku Scientific – give Hawaiian Electric hands-on experience with the technology to better advise customers and answer their questions. Learn more about the project and to see video about PV in Hawaii.

Learn more about solar energy.

Seeking renewable energy projects for Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Company is seeking developers for a competitive bidding process to supply added renewable energy to Oahu’s power grid.

With the approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a request for proposals is being issued in 2008 asking for projects to provide up to 100 megawatts of ‘non-firm’ renewable energy. Bidders may also submit additional larger alternate proposals or subsequent phases of more renewable energy.

In addition, Hawaiian Electric is continuing discussions with other potential renewable energy providers who began working with the utility before the PUC required competitive bidding. These include wind, waste-to-energy and ocean thermal energy conversion projects.

Learn about seeking more renewable energy for Oahu.

More renewable waste-to-energy

Hawaiian Electric has worked with the City & County of Honolulu on the re-bidding of the H-Power water-to-energy project with the goal of adding at least 17 more megawatts of renewable waste-to-energy for Oahu customers.

Learn more about waste to energy.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel, a renewable fuel, can be produced from many different plants that contain vegetable oils, including palm, soy, jatropha, kukui and coconut, or from reuse of waste grease from restaurants and other sources. Research on using marine algae to create biodiesel is entering the demonstration stage with a project planned for the Natural Energy Laboratory (NELHA) in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island.

Hawaiian Electric’s goal in pursuing biofuels in general and biodiesel in particular is not just to reduce our use of imported fossil fuel and our impact on global warming. An agricultural energy industry would also protect Hawaii’s open space, revive agriculture, create jobs, and keep more of Hawaii’s spending on energy at home.

Biofuel on Maui

In February 2007, Hawaiian Electric and BlueEarth Biofuels LLC announced plans to build a biodiesel production facility on Maui to provide biodiesel to Maui Electric. Scheduled to be in service in 2010, the plant will produce 40 million gallons of biodiesel a year and be expandable to 120 million gallons by 2011. As 85 percent of Maui Electric Company’s generation capacity currently uses petroleum diesel, the use of renewable biodiesel and biodiesel byproducts in Maui Electric’s generators – combined with wind power and other renewable electricity sources – could make Maui island virtually 100 percent renewable for electricity within a decade.

Hawaiian Electric’s share of the profits from the BlueEarth biodiesel facility will be put into a Public Biofuels Trust Fund. This trust will support local research into crops for biofuels and help jump start local biodiesel farming and processing.

Learn more about biofuels.

Biofuel on Oahu

Hawaiian Electric selected Imperium Services, LLC, an affiliate of Imperium Renewables Hawaii, to supply biodiesel to fuel Hawaiian Electric’s new Campbell Industrial Park Generating Station planned to be in service by mid-2009.

In approving the new plant, the Public Utilities Commission confirmed an agreement reached between the State Consumer Advocate and Hawaiian Electric to fuel this new 110-megawatt peaking plant with 100-percent, renewable biofuel.

Learn more about Imperium Renewables.

Ocean Energy

The ocean is the largest energy storehouse on the planet, capturing the suns rays and creating kinetic energy as winds create waves, currents and tides. The Hawaiian Electric companies have been monitoring progress in ocean energy technologies for over a decade and plans are in place to add this resource to the portfolio of renewable energy sources here.

Wave energy on Maui

In February, 2008, Oceanlinx Ltd., an Australia-based international high-tech company, announced plans to provide electricity to Maui Electric Company from Hawaii’s first wave energy project.

The plan is to provide up to 2.7 megawatts from two or three floating platforms located one-half to three-quarters of a mile due north of Pauwela Point on the northeast coast of Maui.

Oceanlinx offers a unique, commercially efficient wave-to-electricity system combining the established science of the oscillating water column with the company’s own patented turbine technology.

Rising and falling sea swells push and pull air past the turbine; its blades shift in response to the direction of the air flow, enabling the turbine to turn continuously in one direction. Electricity is then brought ashore through an undersea cable to a substation tied to the island electrical grid.

The project could be operational by the end of 2009. The cost, borne by Oceanlinx and its investors, is estimated at $20 million. Oceanlinx will prepare an environmental impact statement for the project and apply for necessary permits and approvals.

Maui Electric Company will execute a purchase power agreement with Oceanlinx and seek approvals from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Oceanlinx has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Renewable Hawaii, Inc., an unregulated subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Company, for possible passive investment in the project.

For more information about Oceanlinx (previously Energetech Australia Pty. Ltd. founded in 1997).

Learn more about ocean energy.

Hawaii’s Energy Future

To learn about Hawaiian Electric Company’s commitment and plans to renewable energy.

On this site you can learn about the Hawaiian Electric Company-Natural Resources Defense Council’s Sustainable Biofuels Procurement Policy, the Ocean Energy Development Guidelines designed to encourage ocean energy developers to begin projects here. You can also comment and ask questions about Hawaii’s preferred energy future.

If you are interested in having a speaker from Hawaiian Electric Company talk to you organization, club or business group, a Speakers Bureau is available. A typical talk, with a slide presentation, lasts 25 to 45 minutes including time for questions. Each talk is tailored to the audience and can focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, ways to save money or global warming. To inquire about a speaker, send an email to hef@heco.com.

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