We are working to meet Hawaii’s goal of producing 40% of the state’s electricity using renewable energy resources by 2030.
In 2011, collectively for Hawaiian Electric Company and our neighbor island subsidiaries Hawaii Electric Light Company and Maui Electric Company, 10.5% of the electricity generated by our utilities and contracted independent power producers was fueled by renewable energy—wind, solar, geothermal, biofuel, solid waste, and hydro power.
Including the oil-saving benefits of solar water heating, grid-connected rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, and other energy efficiency measures, the Hawaiian Electric family of companies achieved a Renewable Portfolio Standards percentage of 24.5%.
On Oahu over 5.6% of the electricity generated by Hawaiian Electric Company and contracted independent power producers in 2011 was fueled by renewable resources.
Many developments are increasing the use of renewable energy on Oahu.
•
Kahuku Wind, a 30-megawatt (MW) wind farm constructed by First Wind Hawaii, started delivering clean energy to our grid in March 2011.
•
The 1-MW solar farm built by Forest City Hawaii at the Kapolei Sustainable Energy Park went into operation in December 2011.
•
First Wind Hawaii has begun construction on Kawailoa Wind, a 69-MW wind farm located northeast of Haleiwa. It will become the largest wind farm in the state when completed, at the end of 2012.
•
In January 2012, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved our agreement with IC Sunshine to purchase energy from a 5-MW solar farm, located at Campbell Industrial Park. Construction should be completed this year.
•
We negotiated power purchase agreements with SunPower Corporation for two 5-MW solar farms at the Kalaeloa Solar Energy Park. One has been approved by the PUC, and construction is scheduled to be completed by early 2013.
•
The City and County of Honolulu is expanding the HPower waste-to-energy plant and, upon approval by the PUC, plans to increase its output to our grid in 2012.
•
The PUC is reviewing our contracts with biofuel producers Pacific Biodiesel and Hawaii BioEnergy to supply locally grown biofuel. Plans call for Pacific Biodiesel to supply biodiesel to the Honolulu International Airport Emergency Power Facility in 2013 and for Hawaii BioEnergy to supply biofuel to Kahe Power Plant in 2016.
•
In 2011, we entered a one-time biofuel supply contract with Phycal Hawaii to test 100,000 gallons of algal oil at Kahe Power Plant in 2014. Negotiations for a longer-term contract are ongoing.
•
The PUC approved our agreement to buy power from Honua Technologies, which plans to build a 6.2-MW waste-to-energy gasification plant. Construction of the plant is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.
•
We are negotiating agreements with four solar farm developers. Each 5-MW facility will be constructed at Castle & Cooke’s new Mililani Solar Energy Park.
On Hawaii Island over 36.7% of the electricity generated by Hawaii Electric Light Company and contracted independent power producers in 2011 was fueled by renewable resources—geothermal, wind, hydro, and solar energy.
We are at the forefront in the integration of electricity from renewable resources and we are striving to increase it even more, while maintaining reliability and power quality for our customers. In addition to utility scale projects, over 2,000 residential and commercial customers have interconnected photovoltaic, wind, and micro-hydro systems to our grid.
Here are some recent renewable energy developments on Hawaii Island:
•
The Public Utilities Commission approved Puna Geothermal Ventures’ contract to sell us an additional 8 MW of electricity in addition to the existing 30-MW capacity.
•
We signed an agreement with Hu Honua Bioenergy to purchase 21.5 MW of renewable energy produced by a biomass facility located in Pepeekeo. Plans call for bringing the plant online by the end of 2013.
•
The Natural Energy Laboratory Authority selected OTEC International to construct a 1-MW demonstration ocean thermal energy conversion power plant at the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park in Kailua-Kona. Plans call for completion of the plant in 2014.
•
We plan to issue a request for proposals for an additional 50 MW of geothermal energy on the Big Island. We are also conducting technical studies on the integration of the additional geothermal power on our electric grid.
In Maui County 15.1% of the electricity generated by Maui Electric Company and contracted independent power producers in 2011 was fueled by renewable resources—wind, biomass, biofuel, hydro, and solar energy.
Following are recent developments in the use of renewable energy in Maui County:
•
The La Ola 1.2-MW photovoltaic farm, owned by Lanai Sustainability Research, reached full capacity in 2012, after installation of a battery energy storage system.
•
First Wind Hawaii is completing expansion of its existing 30-MW Kaheawa wind farm, adding 14 wind turbines with the combined capacity to produce an additional 21 MW of power. We expect the new turbines will deliver power to our grid late this summer.
•
Early this year, Sempra Generation began construction on Auwahi Wind, a 21-MW wind farm at Ulupalakua Ranch, in East Maui. Construction is expected to be completed in December.
•
Oceanlinx Limited continues its plans to install a wave energy demonstration project near Pauwela Point.
The following table provides a breakdown of the mix of fuels used to generate electricity for delivery to our service areas in 2011.
Fuel Mix in Our Service Area - 2011 Calendar Year*
Fuel Sources
Hawaiian Electric Company
(island of Oahu)
Hawaii Electric Light Company
(island of Hawaii)
Maui Electric Company
(islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai)
Hawaiian Electric family of companies
(HECO, HELCO, and MECO)
Oil
76.342%
63.289%
83.638%
75.708%
Coal
17.987%
0
1.242%
13.771%
Biofuel
0.589%
0
1.161%
0.591%
Biomass
0
0
3.482%
0.434%
Geothermal
0
19.628%
0
2.322%
Hydro
0
3.818%
0.496%
0.513%
Solar
0.003%
0.006%
0.151%
0.022%
Solid Waste
4.236%
0
0
3.207%
Wind
0.843%
13.259%
9.830%
3.433%
TOTAL:
100%
100%
100%
100%
Total from Renewable Resources
5.671%
36.711%
15.120%
10.522%
* Based on the amount of electricity generated by the Hawaiian Electric family of companies and purchased from independent power producers in 2011
