The Fuels working group is dedicated to helping reduce Hawai‘i's dependence on imported oil by promoting the production and use of biomass fuels in Hawai‘i.

 

GOAL

A primary goal of the Fuels working group is to increase energy efficiency in the transportation sector. In addition, the group seeks to develop local biomass resources to produce a portion of the stored energy that Hawai'i requires to meet its basic ground transportation, air travel, and heavy-duty ocean and ground transportation needs and to maintain the required voltage and frequency of the electrical grid. First steps toward this goal include:

  • Determining what level of biofuel and bioenergy production is economically and environmentally viable for Hawai'i
  • Identifying opportunities for synergies with the local production of food and other products
  • Addressing policy issues dealing with land use, water resources, technology development, and energy security

Although Hawaii’s demand for petroleum can be reduced significantly through base-load renewable energy sources (geothermal and ocean thermal energy conversion) and intermittent renewable energy sources (solar, wind, and wave), there will be times when more energy is needed than is available. At such times (for instance, when the sun is not shining, when the wind is not blowing, during peak demand times, or when systems require maintenance and repair), it will be necessary to rely on stored energy to meet Hawaii’s transportation needs and to provide the on-demand electricity needed to maintain the required voltage and frequency of the electrical grid. Energy may be stored in batteries; in pumped hydro systems; or in the form of liquid, solid, and gaseous fuels. Liquid, solid, and gaseous fuels from organic sources are similar to the fossil-based fuels in use today.

 

 

SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES

The Fuels working group is focused on the following short-term objectives:

  • Assess the potential of biofuels production in Hawai'i.
  • Estimate the demand for liquid fuels in 2030.
  • Explore the potential for electricity production using biomass and collaborate with the Electricity working group where synergies exist.
  • Evaluate the potential to rely on biofuels as a significant renewable energy resource.
  • Implement commercially viable biofuels development.

 

CHALLENGES

The Fuels working group is seeking solutions to numerous challenges and potential roadblocks associated with increasing the use and production of biomass fuels in Hawai'i. Among them are:

  • Land and water resources and priorities
  • Distribution infrastructure (marine and land)
  • Irrigation infrastructure
  • Labor resources and issues
  • Environmental impact.

 

RECENT MILESTONES

Since it began meeting in 2008, the Fuels working group has achieved the following milestones:

  • Members met with Black & Veatch to provide input for the company's engineering analysis of potential for biofuels production in Hawai'i, including:
    • Crops
    • Processes
    • Total gallons
    • Economics
    • Biomass conversion technologies for ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and hydrogen.
  • Members met with the Hawai'i Natural Energy Institute during the development of the bioenergy master plan project, which includes:
    • Evaluation of the potential for Hawai'i to rely on biofuels as a significant renewable energy resource
    • A roadmap to implementing commercially viable biofuels development in Hawai'i
    • Potential partnerships
    • Potential demonstration projects.

 

FUTURE MILESTONES

Among the milestones the Fuels working group has set for 2009 are:

  • Reviewing results of Black & Veatch biofuels assessment (July 2009)
  • Reviewing the results of the bioenergy master plan (July 2009)
  • Analyzing and discuss the need for bioenergy legislation
  • Participating in a stakeholders workshop (Q3)
  • Reviewing the final bioenergy master plan being submitted by DBEDT
  • Building strategic partnerships for the research, development, testing, and deployment of renewable biofuels technologies and production of biomass crops
  • Staging biofuels demonstration projects, including infrastructure for production, storage, and transport of biofuels
  • Evaluating the potential for electricity co-production with biofuel production as a means of reducing project revenue fluctuations
  • Communicating the impacts and benefits of a viable agricultural sector for producing food and fuel
  • Promoting Hawai'i's renewable biofuels resources to potential partners and investors for development in Hawai'i as well as for export
  • Working with refiners and refineries to transition from fossil fuels to biofuels.

 

CONTACTS

 

 

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative