Energy in Hawaii

Energy in the U.S. state of Hawaii is produced from a mixture of fossil fuel and renewable resources. Producing energy is complicated by the state's isolated location and lack of fossil fuel resources. The state relies heavily on imports of petroleum. Hawaii has the highest share of petroleum use in the United States, with about 62% of electricity coming from oil in 2017. As of 2021 renewable energy made up 34.5% .[1]

Hawi wind farm near Hāwī, Hawai'i, the Big Island. The wind farm has 16 Vestas V47-660 kW wind turbines for a total nameplate capacity of 10.56 MW.

Hawaii has the highest electricity prices in the United States. As of 2016 the average cost of electricity was $0.24 per kilowatt-hour, followed by Alaska at $0.19. The U.S. average was $0.10.

Consumption

Hawaii's energy consumption is dominated by oil, which in 2016 provided 83% (down from 85.0% in 2008 and 99.7% in 1960). Other sources in 2016 included coal (5.6%) and renewable energy (11.2%). In 2017, sources of renewable power were:

2017 Renewable power
Distributed PV 33.50%
Utility-scale PV 4.90%
Wind 26.60%
Hydro 3.60%
Geothermal 10.50%
Biofuels 1.60%
Biomass 19.20%

Renewable energy support

Hawaii has committed to developing renewable energy to supply 70 percent or more of Hawaii's energy needs by 2030.[2][3][4]

Hawaii requires solar water heaters for new homes, except for those in areas with poor solar energy resources, homes using other renewable energy sources, and homes employing on-demand gas-fired water heaters.[5] It offers a rebate of the lesser of 35% of the cost of photovoltaics or $5,000.[6]

History

Hawaii began concrete support for renewable energy in the 21st century.

Wind and solar capacity for current and planned projects in Hawaii as of January 2020

Legislation

HB 3179 made it easier for biofuel producers to lease state lands. SB 3190 and HB 2168 authorized special purpose revenue bonds to help finance a solar energy facility on Oahu and hydrogen generation and conversion facilities at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, located on Hawaii island.

In 2010 SB 644 mandated solar water heaters for new construction, with some exceptions. The bill eliminated solar thermal energy tax credits for homes.[5]

SB 988 allowed the Hawaii Public Utility Commission to establish a rebate for photovoltaic systems, and HB 2550 encouraged net metering for residential and small commercial customers.

In 2008 HB 2863 provided streamlined permitting for new renewable energy facilities of at least 200 megawatts capacity. HB 2505 created a full-time renewable energy facilitator to help the state expedite permits. HB 2261 provided loans of up to $1.5 million and up to 85% of the cost of renewable energy projects at farms and aquaculture facilities.

HRS 235 established an income tax credit for photovoltaic systems of the lesser of 35% of the cost or $5,000.[6]

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative
See also: Clean energy

On January 28, 2008, the State of Hawaii and the US Department of Energy announced the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, which established the commitment for energy to supply 70 percent of Hawaii's energy needs by 2030.[2][3][4]

The Initiative intended to work with public and private partners on renewable energy projects including: designing cost-effective approaches for 100 percent use of renewable energy on smaller islands, improve grid stability while incorporating variable generating sources and expanding Hawaii's capability to use locally grown crops for producing fuel and electricity.[7]

Partners include United States Department of Energy - EERE, the state of Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Company, Phoenix Motorcars.

Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority

The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is a test site for experimental renewable energy. It was originally built to test Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), and later evolved into a commercial (but requiring state subsidies and county agricultural rate potable water) industrial park, including desalinating drinking water for export, aquaculture, biofuel from algae, solar thermal energy, concentrating solar and wind power.

Energy use by sector

Transportation

The electric Skyline network was planned to transport commuters from to begin operation in late 2020,[8] as of 2019 was scheduled for 2025 at the earliest.[9]

Electricity
See also: List of power stations in Hawaii
Sources of electricity on the Big Island.

Ninety-nine percent of the population in Hawaii (outside of Kauai) is supplied by Hawaiian Electric Industries (HECO).[10] Kauai is supplied by consumer-owned Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. As of 2018, the total dispatchable capacity was 1,727 MW, and the intermittent generation capacity was 588 MW.[11] Each island generates its own power, unconnected to other islands.[12] The islands have several grid batteries.[13]

Oil

Oil is the largest electricity source. As of 2022, it produced ~2863 MWh, or 38% of the total.[14]

Solar
Main article: Solar power in Hawaii

Solar power in Hawaii grew quickly, putting household energy generation below the cost of purchased electricity. In 2017, solar power produced 38.4% of the state's renewable electricity..

As of March 2020, 916 MW of solar generating capacity was installed in HECO areas.[15]

Wind power
Main article: Wind power in Hawaii
Kaheawa Wind Power

As of 2022, Hawaii wind farms were producing 701 MwH or 22.1% of the state's electricity.[14] This is generated by the following wind farms:

This section is an excerpt from List of power stations in Hawaii § Wind.[edit]
Wind power in Hawaii
NameLocationCoordinatesCapacity
(MW)		Number of
Turbines		Year
Opened		Refs
Auwahi Wind Energy HybridMaui County2482012
Hawi Wind FarmHawaii County10.6162006
Kaheawa Wind PowerMaui County30202006
Kaheawa Wind Power IIMaui County21142012
Kahuku Wind PowerHonolulu County30122011
Kawailoa WindHonolulu County69302012
Pakini Nui Wind FarmHawaii County21142007
Lalamilo Wells Hawaii County 3.3 5 2017 [16]

Hawaii began research into wind power in the mid-1980s with a 340 kW turbine on Maui, the 2.3MW Lalamilo Wells wind farm on Oahu and the 9 MW Kamaoa wind farm on Hawaii Island.[17] The MOD-5B, a 3.2 MW wind turbine, on Oahu was the largest in the world in 1987. These early examples were all out of service by 2010.

Biomass

Hawaii has several biomass electric plants including the 10 MW Honolulu International Airport Emergency Power Facility, the 6.7 MW Green Energy Agricultural Biomass-to-Energy Facility on Kauai, and the 6.6 MW waste-to-energy Honua Power Project on Hawaii Island. The 21.5 MW Hu Honua plant remains in litigation and is not online.[18] Wärtsilä sold a plant to Hawaii Electric to be installed at Schofield Barracks Army Base on Oahu in 2017. The plant can run on solid or gas fuels including biomass.[19]

Pacific Biodiesel operates a biodiesel production facility on Hawaii Island. It provides fuel to Hawaiian Electric Industries, the City and County of Honolulu and marine company Extended Horizons.[20]

Coal

Hawaii has banned new coal plants.[21] Between 1992 and 2022, a single plant operated in the state, AES Hawaii Power Plant, which generated 180 MWe.[22] The plant closed in September 2022, accompanied by a 7% increase in electricity rates.[23]

Wave power

The U.S. Navy and the University of Hawaii operate a Wave Energy Test Site in Kaneohe Bay.[24]

Geothermal

The 38 MW Puna Geothermal Venture was constructed on Hawaii island between 1989 and 1993. It operated until May 2018 when it was shut down due to the 2018 lower Puna eruption, and resumed production at 25 MW in November 2020.[25]

Algae fuel
Main article: Algae fuel

Cellana produces oil from algae at a 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) research site at Kailua-Kona on Hawaii island. Cellana (previously HR BioPetroleum) worked with Royal Dutch Shell on a pilot facility to grow algae on land leased from the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, on the island's west shore.

See also

References
  1. "Hawaiian Electric hits nearly 35% renewable energy, exceeding state mandate". www.hawaiianelectric.com.
  2. "Hawaii Clean Energy". Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  3. "Hawaii Bans New Coal Plants, Plans to be 70% Renewable by 2030". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  4. "Hawaii MOU" (PDF). March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  5. Yonan Jr., Alan (January 9, 2011). "Homebuilders skirt solar law More than 20% of new homes use loophole to avoid adding solar". Honolulu Star Advertiser.
  6. "House Bill". www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  7. "Governor: Hawaii to be "world model" for clean energy". Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  8. "Rail Facts - All FAQ's | Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation". Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  9. Cook Lauer, Nancy (December 24, 2018). "Honolulu Rail Project Struggles to Stay on Track".
  10. Lyte, Brittany (May 9, 2022). "Hawaiian Electric May Have To Build A New Oil-Fired Power Plant On Maui". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  11. "Power Facts". www.hawaiianelectric.com.
  12. "Can Hawaii go 100% Renewable?". January 12, 2017.
  13. Murray, Cameron (January 16, 2023). "Wärtsilä's second solar-plus-storage Hawaii project for IPP Clearway goes online". Energy Storage News.
  14. "Our Clean Energy Portfolio". www.hawaiianelectric.com. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  15. "Cumulative Installed PV -- As of Mar 31, 2020" (PDF). March 2022.
  16. "California company plans to build $13M wind farm on Hawaii's Big Island". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  17. "Wind Energy". Hawaiian Electric Company. 2013. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015.
  18. http://www.ililani.media/2020/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-hu-honua.html Archived September 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, ililani media, August 10, 2020
  19. Voegele, Erin (December 2, 2014). "Wartsila to provide 50 MW plant to bioenergy project in Hawaii | Biomassmagazine.com". biomassmagazine.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  20. "Pacific Biodiesel will export biofuel to California". mauinews.com. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  21. "Hawaii Bans New Coal Plants, Plans to be 70% Renewable by 2030". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  22. "Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006" (Excel). Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
  23. Jones, Caleb (September 1, 2022). "Hawaii quits coal in bid to fight climate change". Associated Press.
  24. Creamer, Beverly (July 1, 2014). "The Navy and private companies collaborate to turn wave energy into electricity". Hawaii Business Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  25. "Puna Geothermal Venture Goes Back Online". www.bigislandvideonews.com.
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