Hawaii Energy
Facts & Figures

July 2019
Prepared by
E N E R G Y. H A W A I I . G O V

Hawaii State Energy OfficeHawaii Energy Facts & Figures
The decisions necessary for Hawaii to meet its goal of becoming
carbon neutral economy by 2045 can be complex and costly, so it isimportant that they are based on the best available information anddata. Providing easily accessible and understandable information
also helps energy stakeholders and others stay informed about thelatest development in Hawaii’s clean energy transformation. The
Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) contributes to this effort throughits publication of Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures report, which
combines in one place key information and data about Hawaii’s
energy ecosystem.
Hawaii’s embrace of clean energy is rooted in a commitment to end its historical dependence on fossil fuels, which
negatively impacts the state’s economy, the environment and energy security. Passage of a 2015 law requires 100
percent of Hawaii’s electricity sales to come from renewable resources by 2045. That was followed by passage of alaw in 2018 to make Hawaii carbon neutral by 2045. Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures provides an overview of Hawaii’s
energy sector and highlights progress in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy systems andplanning, and clean transportation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hawaii Energy Overview ....................... .2
Energy Efficiency .................................... .6
Renewable Energy ................................. 14
Clean Transportation ............................. 43

1| DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Hawaii Energy Overview
Hawaii depends more on petroleum for its energy needs than any other state. Less than 1 percent of electricity in
the United States is generated using oil. By contrast, Hawaii relied on oil for 61.3 percent and on coal for 11.9
percent of its electricity generation in 2018.1
Fig. 1: Hawaii Electricity Production by Source (2018)

Fig 2: U.S. Electricity Production by Source (2018)

2| DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Hawaii Energy Overview
ELECTRIC UTILITES
Fig. 3: Hawaii’s electricity prices are more than double the U.S. average.

In Hawaii, both electricity and gasoline prices correlate closely with the price of petroleum.
Fig. 4: Prices of crude oil, gasoline, and electricity.2

3| DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Hawaii Energy Overview
Electricity production and motor gasoline are just part of Hawaii’s fossil fuel usage. Large quantities of jet fuel arealso used in the state. In Hawaii, the air transportation sector accounts for the highest percentage of petroleum use,followed by ground transportation and electricity production, with the remainder used for marine transportation,commercial, industrial and residential uses.3 The chart below represents 2017 petroleum use, as reported by the U.S.
Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Fig. 5: Hawaii’s Petroleum Use by Sector 2017.

Table 1: Imports, production, transportation.
2018 total foreign crude oil imports(million barrels)434.9

2018 fuel for electricity production(million gallons)5385

2018 total foreign petroleum imports(million gallons)6

1,845

2018 impacted foreign fuel for airtransportation (i.e. jet fuel) (million gallons)7336

2018 Hawaii’s rank among 50 states forenergy prices812018 fuel for ground transportation(million gallons)9511

The two primary electric utilities that service the power needsof the state are Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (HEI) and Kauai
Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC).

Fig. 6

HEI is the largest supplier of electricity in the state and serves
the majority of Hawaii’s population. Under HEI are threeelectric utilities: Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO) serves
Oahu; Maui Electric Company, Limited (MECO) serves Maui,
Molokai, and Lanai; and Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.
(HELCO) serves Hawaii Island.
KIUC operates as a cooperative and is not structured in thesame manner as HEI. Both companies; however, are committed to the adoption and integration of renewablesources of energy in the effort to reduce the state’s dependency on oil and both are regulated by Hawaii Public
Utilities Commission.
4 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Hawaii Energy Overview
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY USE, RATES, AND MONTHLY BILLSIn general, the residential electricity use, rates, and bills have declined since 2011.
Table 2: RESIDENTIAL, AVERAGE MONTHLY USE (KWH)
Year

State Total

Oahu

Hawaii

Kauai

Lanai

Maui

Molokai

2011

584

609

520

473

435

612

373

2012

543

561

494

465

413

574

345

2013

514

523

473

464

430

557

329

2014

496

501

458

464

443

545

312

2015

497

504

454

474

424

541

306

2016

484

488

450

478

425

517

312

2017

482

486

451

491

417

510

324

2018

494

493

471

503

447

533

325

Table 3: RESIDENTIAL, AVERAGE RATE ($/KWH)
Year
State Total
Oahu
Hawaii
2011
$0.35
$0.32
$0.42

Kauai
$0.43

Lanai
$0.44

Maui
$0.36

Molokai
$0.43

$0.45
$0.44
$0.43
$0.34
$0.34
$0.35
$0.37

$0.47
$0.46
$0.46
$0.38
$0.34
$0.36
$0.40

$0.39
$0.38
$0.38
$0.31
$0.29
$0.31
$0.34

$0.46
$0.46
$0.47
$0.38
$0.33
$0.36
$0.37

Kauai
$205
$209
$205
$199
$163
$163
$170
$187

Lanai
$192
$192
$199
$203
$159
$142
$150
$179

Maui
$219
$222
$211
$206
$168
$147
$157
$180

Molokai
$161
$159
$153
$147
$115
$102
$115
$121

Source: State of Hawaii Data Book

2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

$0.37
$0.37
$0.37
$0.30
$0.28
$0.30
$0.33

$0.35
$0.35
$0.35
$0.28
$0.26
$0.28
$0.31

$0.42
$0.42
$0.42
$0.35
$0.32
$0.34
$0.37

Source: State of Hawaii Data Book

Table 4: RESIDENTIAL, AVERAGE MONTHLY BILL
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

State Total
$202
$203
$189
$185
$149
$135
$145
$163

Oahu
$195
$197
$181
$178
$141
$127
$137
$155

Hawaii
$218
$210
$199
$192
$157
$142
$154
$175

Source: State of Hawaii Data Book

5 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Energy Efficiency
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS (EEPS)
Under HRS 269-96 (EEPS statute), the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission is responsible for establishing standards thatwill maximize cost-effective energy-efficiency programs and technologies. The goal for EEPS is a reduction of electricity
consumption by 4,300 gigawatt-hours by 2030.

Hawaii Energy (HE) continues to be a major contributor to the state’s EEPS goals. Hawaii
Energy encourages and rewards smart energy decisions which will allow our state to reach
100 percent clean energy faster and cheaper through energy efficiency and conservation. As
the Public Benefits Fee Administrator*, HE serves all of the islands except for Kauai. From
July 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019, the program invested over $18 million to deliver morethan 1.1 billion kWh in estimated lifetime customer-level energy savings at a rough cost of
one-cent per kWh. This is the equivalent to building a 56 MW solar farm, or the equivalent
saved energy to power 173,000 homes for a year. In addition, this will reduce greenhousegas emissions by nearly 1 million tons.

Energy Performance Contracts
Energy performance contracts (EPC) finance improvements that reduce energy and water use with the future savings
from the energy conservation measures (ECM) that are installed. ECM also include photovoltaic installations.
Under an EPC, the energy service company contracted to install the ECM will guarantee the savings or pay for the
shortfall. EPC allow government agencies to maximize their energy investments because they can include deferred
maintenance and performance period maintenance services under a single contract with guaranteed savings
measures. The economic impacts of performance contracts are significant, providing great value to the state.
Performance contracts allows agencies to install ECM in a timely manner. ECM can take less than one year to up to
three years to install. Therefore, energy savings occur sooner than later. Capital improvement projects can take fromsix to 10 years, resulting in missed opportunities for annual energy and water use savings. State and county agencies
face increasing energy and water costs and the need to upgrade aging, inefficient, and obsolete energy- and waterconsuming equipment. Capital improvement and operating budgets have been unable to keep up with the needed
upgrades for ECM.
Hawaii surpassed the half-billion-dollar mark for investment in EPC in 2017. With $507.1 million in signed EPC to date,
Hawaii is just one of nine states nationally to eclipse the half-billion-dollar threshold for EPC investment.
*

Hawaii Energy is the Public Benefits Fee Administrator that is contracted by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to manage and deliver
energy-efficiency and demand-side management programs and services using the surcharge called the “Public Benefits Fee” that is collected by
the Hawaiian Electric Companies.

6 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Energy Performance Contracts
RACE TO THE TOP AWARD
For seven consecutive years Hawaii has garnered further national recognition with the Race to the
Top award from the Energy Services Coalition (ESC)*. The award is given to the national leader
with the highest per capita investment in performance contracting projects. With the Departmentof Transportation, Airports Division, performance contract for nearly $209.8 million, ESC
recognizes Hawaii with the distinction of signing the single largest performance contract by a stateagency. Since 2012 through 2018 the ESC has awarded Hawaii the Race to the Top award for being
the all-time per-capita investment leader. Hawaii also received a second Race to the Top award
from the ESC in 2018 for having the most EPC investment per capita in 2017.
Table 5: Energy Services Coalition Ranking
State

Population

Performance Contracting

Dollars per Capita

1. Hawaii

1,360,301$507,133,904$372.81

2. Washington

6,724,540$1,356,449,930$201.72

3. Delaware

897,934$177,776,651$197.98

4. Kentucky

4,339,367$750,000,000$172.84

5. Massachusetts

6,547,629$1,008,848,634$154.08

Since HSEO started the performance contracting program in 1996, state and local government agencies have signed atotal of over $507 million in performance contracts that are estimated to save in excess of $1.1 billion over the life of
the contracts. These savings are the equivalent of powering 396,586 homes for one year. The projects comprise over
112 million square feet in 295 existing buildings or facilities.
*

ESC is a national nonprofit organization of experts working together to increase energy efficiency and building upgrades throughenergy performance contracting.

7 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
STATE AND COUNTY ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS
The chart below illustrates the number of EPC projects conducted by state and county agencies from 1996 through2018. In addition, over $8 million in rebate incentives have been claimed from Hawaii Energy, reducing the cost of theenergy efficiency improvements through performance contracting projects. Looking ahead, the state anticipates more
EPC investments.
Table 6:
AgencyYear(s)Contract Amount ($)

U.H. Hilo

1996-2012$6,402,695

Estimated Savings Over Lifeof Contract ($)$14,630,066

County of Hawaii

1997-2026$2,215,546$8,157,880

County of Kauai

1998-2012$525,965$1,205,990

C&C of Honolulu

2001-2025$11,900,205$36,066,761

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation

2002-2022$21,936,997$55,766,364

Judiciary

2003-2012$1,474,406$9,785,036

Dept. of Accounting & General Services Phase I

2009-2029$36,873,266$72,580,767

Department of Public Safety

2010-2030$25,511,264$57,211,112

University of Hawaii Community Colleges

2012-2032$34,207,392$37,000,000

C&C Honolulu Kailua Wastewater
Treatment Plant

2013-2033$6,054,178$13,693,910

Dept. of Accounting and General Ser- 2013-2033
vices Phase II$17,400,000$28,000,000

Department of Transportation2013-2034$309,506,592$795,560,746

Honolulu Board of Water Supply

2016-2036$33,125,398$56,846,668$507,133,904$1,186,505,300

Total

For nearly 20 years HSEO has been leading the state’s award-winning EPC efforts with a policy offering technicalassistance to state agencies contemplating performance contracting. We’ve assisted the following entities:• University of Hawaii at Hilo
• Hawaii Health Systems Corporation• City and County of Honolulu’s four city buildings and Kailua Wastewater Treatment Facility• County of Hawaii• County of Kauai• The Judiciary• Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS)-Phase I-10 large office buildings• University of Hawaii Community Colleges• Department of Public Safety’s four large facilities• Department of Transportation: Airports, Highways and Harbors• DAGS Phase II - 33 buildings• Honolulu Board of Water Supply

8 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
The types of technical assistance offered, pending funding, include:
1. Assisting an agency in compiling building plans and other information to use in solicitations
2. Reviewing draft solicitations
3. Evaluating proposed energy conservation measures, including renewable and water efficiency measures
4. Setting energy performance baselines
5. Reviewing methods for estimating energy savings (including formulas and simulation models); measurement andverification
6. Reviewing investment grade energy audits
7. Reviewing draft contract documents
8. Advising on commissioning
9. Advising on how project risks can be allocated and minimized for the state agency
In 2006 legislative and executive mandates to incorporate energy and resource efficiency and conservation ingovernment facilities, fleets, and personnel practices gave impetus to the state’s Lead by Example (LBE) initiative to put
state agencies at the forefront of energy independence efforts. As shown in the graph below, Hawaii state agencies’
electricity purchased through 2018 has declined 16.1 percent from 2005 (the baseline year). HSEO tracks and reports
on electricity purchased by state agencies as part of the LBE initiative.
Fig. 7: Comparison of State Agencies’ Electricity Consumption in kWh: FY05 to FY18

9 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
Fig. 8: Comparison of kWh Purchased by Agency by YearAG
Department of the Attorney General
DAGS
Department of Accounting and General Services
DBEDT
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
DCCA
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
DHHL
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
DHS
Department of Human Services
DLIR
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
DLNR
Department of Land and Natural Resources
DOA
Department of Agriculture
DOD
Department of Defense
DOE
Department of Education
DOH
Department of Health
DOT Airports Department of Transportation/Airports Division

DOT Harbors
DOT Highways
FTZ
HCDA
HHFDC
HHSC
HPHA
HSPLS
HTA-CC
NELHA
PSD
UH

Department of Transportation/Harbors Division
Department of Transportation/Highways Division
Foreign-Trade Zone Division
Hawaii Community Development Authority
Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation
Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
Hawaii Public Housing Authority
Hawaii State Public Library System
Hawaii Tourism Authority – Convention Center
Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority
Department of Public Safety
University of Hawaii

10 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

State of Hawaii Agencies Lead By Example
Fig. 9: Statewide Electricity Purchased Since 2005

Percentage change in electricity purchased, from baseline (2005) and each following year. Shown are the price of oil,the average retail price of electricity*, total statewide electricity costs and electricity purchased (kWh).
Since 1996, state agencies have received nearly $12.2 million in efficiency rebates from Hawaii Energy, the Hawaiian
Electric Company and its subsidiaries. Combined, these rebates have resulted in more than $274 million estimatedcumulative dollar savings and 1.5 billion kWh electricity savings. Over the life of the equipment, these savings would beenough to power about 180,000** households for a year. From June 2018 through March 2019, state agencies received$322,000 in rebates.
*

Based on U.S. Energy Information Administration‐816m reporting, dividing utility total revenues by total MWh sold, including fuel adjustment
cost.
**

Starting in 2019, the number of households is calculated using an average equipment useful life (EUL) of 13 years. Thus, the total household
figure is decreased from the 2018 reported 208,000 households.

11 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

State Energy Building Code Update
On July 14, 2015, the State Building Code Council (SBCC) unanimously
voted to adopt the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2015,
with the Tropical Climate Zone Code for residential dwellings and otherenergy-saving amendments. Gov. David Ige signed and approved IECC
2015 on March 20, 2017 as Hawaii Administrative Rule. All counties
adopted the 2015 IECC as amended as of April 1, 2019, either byadoption or by default.
HSEO staff chairs the SBCC which was established by statute to updatebuilding codes. HSEO provided IECC 2015 technical assistance and staff
training for 310 private and public-sector design professionals andcounty building officials. HSEO testified in support of adopting the IECC 2015 and will promulgate the prompt adoptionof the 2018 IECC as required by state law. The 2018 iteration does not include any major changes from the 2015 IECC.
HSEO staff attended public hearings on the 2021 IECC, successfully advocating for inclusion of electric vehicle-readyand renewable energy provisions.
The estimated net savings from the 2015 IECC with Hawaii amendments is 12,962 MWh in 2019, 1,083,590 MWh in
2029 (year 10), 1,991,059 MWh in 2032 and 4,702,738 MWh in 2038 (year 20). These savings could power 732,514
homes in 2038.
Commercial Code Savings: Commercial buildings are expected to save about 33 percent compared to the 2006 IECC.
The savings estimates will rise as a result of additional amendments adopted by the counties.
Residential Code Savings: Fully conditioned 2015 IECC residences may achieve a 6 to 9 percent improvement in energy
efficiency. Those following the Tropical Climate Zone compliance path could realize a savings of up to 48 percent
compared to the model code by opting to utilize natural ventilation and choosing the highest-efficiency options.
Visit HSEO’s website, Hawaii Energy Building Code, for more information on the updated energy code including areport on the analysis of the code amendments, FAQs gathered from the various training sessions statewide,
presentation webinars, fact sheets and a report forecasting the energy savings for the updated code.

Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED)The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its State Market Briefs. The brief highlights thenumber of LEED certified and registered projects in the state, as well as the gross square footage. Asof May 2019, Hawaii has 206 LEED certified projects and 231 registered projects. This totals 437 total
projects for a gross square footage of over 50.5 million gross square feet. Utilizing less energy andwater, LEED-certified spaces save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon
emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger
community. The certified buildings included numerous private developments, as well as federal,state, and county public buildings. There are 946 LEED Credentialed professionals based in Hawaii.
HSEO remains a member of USGBC, the non-profit entity which administers the LEED program. In 2018, Hawaii wasback among the top 10 states for LEED certified project square footage per capita. With 4.5 million LEED-certified grosssquare footage, Hawaii rated 4th highest state in the U.S. this year.
The state requires all new construction and major renovation to meet LEED Silver standards, to the extent possible.
HSEO continues to promote LEED training opportunities for state agency staff. Hookele Elementary School, Moana
Surfrider, Sheraton Waikiki, and The Royal Hawaiian Hotels were recently LEED-certified.

12 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

ENERGY STAR® Buildings
To help identify energy efficiency investment priorities, agencies and private sector building owners and managers canbenchmark buildings to compare energy usage with other buildings in their portfolio or similar buildings nationally. If abuilding’s performance, as reflected in its ENERGY STAR score, ranks in the top 25 percent of all buildings of its type, it
can be certified as an ENERGY STAR building.
To qualify for certification, a building must meet ENERGY STAR requirements as verified by a licensed professional
engineer or architect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) then evaluates the verification submitted and, if
approved, will officially certify the applicant as an ENERGY STAR building. Since 2000, 173 Hawaii buildings havereceived the ENERGY STAR certification, including over 100 public buildings. During this time, HSEO has helped
benchmark 83 state facilities. Since energy use is dynamic, buildings should be verified and certified as ENERGY STARannually to ensure optimum efficiency.

Hawaii Green Business Program
Hawaii’s businesses are also contributing to the clean energy movement byimproving their operations in an environmentally, culturally and socially
responsible manner. To help businesses implement energy and resource
efficiency practices, the state set up the Hawaii Green Business Program as apartnership between HSEO, the Department of Health, the Board of Water
Supply and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. When businesses embracegreen business practices, they don’t just enjoy utility cost savings – they also
contribute to Hawaii’s collective energy independence goals and, ultimately, amore sustainable environment.
From 2009-2017, over 100 business and government entities have benefited from the program, including sectors suchas hospitality, commercial office, retail, restaurant, food services, grocery, venue and green events. Their savings
amounts to:• 22.7 million kWh of energy (equivalent to powering 3,531 homes for one year in Hawaii)• 203.2 million gallons of water• $6.4 million in energy costs

For more information go to Hawaii Green Business Program.

13 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Renewable Energy
Under Section 269-91, Hawaii Revised
Statutes (HRS), “renewable energy” is definedas energy generated or produced using thefollowing sources:• Biofuels;• Biogas, including landfill and sewagebased digester gas;
• Biomass, including biomass crops,
agricultural and animal residues andwastes, and municipal solid waste andother solid waste;• Falling water;• Geothermal;• Hydrogen produced from renewableenergy sources;• Ocean water, currents, and waves,including ocean thermal energy
conversion;• the sun; and• Wind.

Fig. 10:

Fig. 11: Hawaii’s diverse renewable energy resources comprise its present renewable energy portfolio

Source: Renewable Portfolio Standard Annual Reports (Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Docket No. 2007-0008)

14 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)“Renewable portfolio standard” means the percentage of electrical energy sales that is represented by renewableelectrical energy (HRS 269-91). Renewable electrical energy generated by each utility, independent power producers,
and customer-sited, grid-connected sources (e.g., rooftop photovoltaic systems) are counted towards the utilities’
RPS. As required by HRS 269-92, each electric utility company that sells electricity for consumption in Hawaii shallestablish a renewable portfolio standard of: 10 percent of net electricity sales by Dec. 31, 2010  40 percent of net electricity sales by Dec. 31, 2030
 15 percent of net electricity sales by Dec. 31, 2015  70 percent of net electricity sales by Dec. 31, 2040
 30 percent of net electricity sales by Dec. 31, 2020  100 percent of net electricity sales by Dec. 31, 2045
All four of Hawaii’s electric utilities (KIUC, HECO, MECO, HELCO) must file an annual RPS status report to the Hawaii
Public Utilities Commission (Docket 2007-0008). Hawaii’s statewide RPS is determined by combining the four RPS
reports.
Fig. 12: Hawaii’s statewide RPS.

15 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Bioenergy and Waste-To-Energy“Bioenergy” is a broadly used term that includes energy produced by biomass and biofuels. Bioenergy production
potential in Hawaii depends largely on the availability of land and feedstock, input expenses (fertilizer, water, CO2 foralgae, seeds), development expenses (permitting, equipment, construction), operating expenses (labor, processing,transportation), markets and values for primary products (electricity, fuels) and by-products (animal feed,pharmaceuticals), and overall revenues compared to costs. For the purposes of this document, bioenergy projects
include facilities that produce feedstock or biofuel and facilities that generate power through the consumption of
biomass or biofuel.

BIOMASS AND WASTE-TO-ENERGY
Under Hawaii law (HRS 269-91), “biomass” includes agricultural and animal residues and wastes, municipal solid
waste and other solid waste (waste-to-energy), and biomass crops grown primarily or secondarily for energy
conversion (energy crops). There are significant differences between organic plant matter and anthropogenic (madeby humans) or agricultural waste materials, however, all are considered “biomass” for RPS purposes in Hawaii.
Biomass including waste-to-energy contributed approximately 17.4 percent towards Hawaii’s RPS in 2018.

BIOMASS AND WASTE-TO-ENERGY PRICING
Pricing for Hawaii’s two operating utility-scale biomass and waste-to-energy projects is based on numerous factors
and may be adjusted annually (average FY18 price, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Annual Report FY 2018):•Green Energy Biomass-to-Energy Facility: $0.2466/kWh•H-POWER: $0.1703/kWh (on-peak), $0.1238/kWh (off-peak)

Table 7: BIOMASS PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project Name
Green Energy Biomass-to-Energy
Facility

IslandKauai

Location
Koloa

Capacity
6.7 MWac

Project Status
Existing/Operational

Honua Ola Bioenergy Facility

Hawaii

Pepeekeo

21.5 MW

Keaau Zero Waste Facility

Hawaii

Keeau

Feedstock

Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development

Table 8: WASTE-TO-ENERGY PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project Name
H-POWER

IslandOahu

Location
Kapolei (Campbell
Industrial Park)
Joint Base Pearl
Harbor-Hickam

Capacity
88 MW (68.5 MW)

Project Status
Existing/Operational

Hawaii Air National Guard Wasteto-Energy Microgrid System
Demo
PVT Bioconversion Feedstock
Facility
Hawaii Integrated Resource
Recovery Facility
Maui County Integrated Waste
Conversion and Energy Project

Oahu

Demonstration

Existing/Operational

Oahu

NanakuliFeedstock Production

Existing/Operational

Hawaii

Waikoloa

15 MMBTU/hr

Maui

Puunene

15 MW

Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development

16 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Bioenergy and Waste-To-Energy
BIOFUELS
Under Hawaii law (HRS 269-91), “biofuels” includes liquid or gaseous fuels produced from organic sources such as
biomass crops, agricultural residues and oil crops, such as palm oil, canola oil, soybean oil, waste cooking oil, grease,and food wastes, animal residues and wastes, and sewage and landfill wastes. Materials (feedstocks) that could be
used for biofuel production include sugars (from plants such as sugarcane or sweet sorghum), starch (such as fromcorn or cassava), fiber (from grasses, trees, husks, stalks, fibers from oilseeds, and from waste materials such as
paper, sawdust, or other organic materials), and oil (such as jatropha, kukui, microalgae, soybean, peanut, sunflower,
oil palm, or waste cooking oil). Biofuels are a renewable energy source that can be stored and transported in amanner similar to fossil fuels, can often be used in existing equipment and be blended with petroleum fuels.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy estimate, and as an illustrative example, one ton of cellulosic biomass
can yield about two barrels of biofuels.
Table 9: BIOFUELS PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project Name
Big Island Biodiesel

IslandHawaii

Location
Keaau

Capacity
5 MGY

Project Status
Existing/Operational

Campbell Industrial Park
Generating Station
Cellana Algae Kona
Demonstration Facility
Daniel K. Inouye International
Airport Dispatchable Standby
Generation Project
Hawaii Pure Plant Oil

Oahu

Kapolei

120 MW

Existing/Operational

Hawaii

Kailua-Kona

Demonstration

Existing/Operational

Oahu

Honolulu

10 MW

Existing/Operational

Hawaii

Keaau

Demonstration

Existing/Operational

Honouliuli Wastewater
Treatment Plant Biogas Project
Kauai Algae Farm

Oahu

Ewa Beach

Existing/Operational

Kauai

Lihue

800,000 Therms /YearDemonstration

Pacific Biodiesel Biofuel Crop
Demonstration Project
Pacific Biodiesel Honolulu Plant

Maui

Central Valley

Existing/Operational

Oahu

Honolulu

Feedstock Demonstration
1 MGY

Schofield Generating Station

Oahu

Wahiawa

50 MW

Existing/Operational

TerViva Pongamia FeedstockDemonstration
Maui Energy Park (Mahinahina
Energy Park)
TerViva Pongamia FeedstockDemonstration

Oahu

Haleiwa

Demonstration

Existing/Operational

Maui

Lahaina

4.5 - 6 MW

Maui

Maalaea-Kihei

Demonstration

Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development

Existing/Operational

Existing/Operational

BIOFUELS PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION IN HAWAII
Currently, biofuel and biogas in Hawaii is produced primarily through the conversion of waste feedstocks – waste
greases (Pacific Biodiesel Technologies plants) and wastewater treatment (HAWAII GAS biogas plant). Biofuels
contributed approximately 2.5 percent towards Hawaii’s RPS in 2018; however, the annual RPS reports do notindicate what percentage of this contribution can be attributed to locally produced biofuels.

17 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Bioenergy and Waste-To-Energy
BIOFUELS PRICING
Since biodiesel fuel imports into Hawaii for electricity production began in 2010, the relative cost of the imported
biodiesel fuel has been significantly higher than for the fossil-based fuels used for electricity generation in Hawaii.
Fig. 13:ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
The cultivation, production, transportation, and consumption of bioenergy has potential for significant environmental
impacts throughout the product chain, particularly given Hawaii’s protected environments and native ecosystems.
Close consideration of the potential impacts and risks from each phase is necessary to fully appreciate and regulate
the environmental impacts from bioenergy projects in Hawaii.

18 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Geothermal
According to the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, the State of Hawaii has
three active volcanoes and three potentially active (dormant) volcanoes throughout the island chain: Loihi(submerged south of Hawaii), Kilauea (Hawaii), Mauna Loa (Hawaii), Mauna Kea (Hawaii), Hualalai (Hawaii), andHaleakala (Maui).

CURRENT PRODUCTION
Prior to its closure in May 2018 due to the Kilauea
eruption, the State of Hawaii had one operating
geothermal power plant: the 38 megawatt (MW)Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) facility owned andoperated by Ormat Technologies and located in
Pahoa on the eastside of Hawaii island. From
January 2018 to May 2018, PGV generated 110,089
megawatt-hours (MWh), which was 10 percent ofenergy sales on Hawaii island that year. This is a
212,520 MWh reduction from 2017, when PGV
produced 30.8 percent of Hawaii island energy sales
for the entire year (322,609 MWh). At time of thisprint, PGV’s future status remains unknown,
however, PGV has announced its intention to
repower this facility, has carved a new road to thefacility, and has started the regulatory processes.
Fig. 14. Puna Geothermal Venture Power Plant, Ormat Technologies(February 2019)

PGV began operating in 1993 at 25 MW and was
expanded in 2011 to its current capacity of 38 MW.
With the 2011 expansion, PGV became the world’s first integrated combined cycle power plant capable of providing
both baseload power to the grid and dispatchable power that supports the integration of other intermittent(fluctuating) renewable energy sources on Hawaii island (wind, solar, hydropower). PGV extracts steam and hot fluids
from production wells a mile or more beneath the earth’s surface and converts the steam into energy through heatexchangers and steam turbine generators. Reuse of the steam in a closed loop system maximizes the energy outputof the extracted steam and fluids and minimizes plant emissions under normal operating conditions. After use, theexhaust steam and fluids are re-injected into the ground via injection wells at similar depths as the production wells.
PGV uses air to cool its turbines, which eliminates the need to use and dispose of water for cooling purposes. PGV’s
dispatchability also enables it to support the grid’s integration of other sources of the renewable energy.

DIRECT USE GEOTHERMAL
While currently not used in Hawaii, direct use geothermal offers promise in areas with industrial or agriculturalprocessing and hot groundwater at or near the surface. Direct use geothermal systems do not generate electricity,
but extract heated groundwater for direct uses, including: large-scale pool heating; space heating, cooling, and ondemand hot water for buildings of most sizes; district heating (i.e., heat for multiple buildings in a city); heating roads
and sidewalks to melt snow; and, some industrial and agricultural processes. Because hot water for direct use istypically close to the surface, drilling and development capital costs are relatively small compared to deeper
geothermal systems.

19 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Geothermal
GEOTHERMAL PRICING
Geothermal electricity pricing can compare well with energy produced from petroleum fuels and other forms ofrenewable electricity in Hawaii. GeothermEx, Inc. estimates the levelized power cost of geothermal for a hypothetical
30 MW plant on Hawaii would be between 7¢ to 8.7¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), with operation and maintenancecosts between 4¢ to 6¢ per kWh and capital costs between $2,500 to $5,000 per installed kilowatt (Assessment ofEnergy Reserves and Costs of Geothermal Resources in Hawaii, GeothermEx, Inc., 2005). When operational, PGV soldpower to HELCO at the following costs (average FY18 price, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Annual Report FY
2018):• First 25 MW (firm): $0.1190/kWh on-peak, $0.1206/kWh off-peak• Additional 5 MW (firm): $0.1275/kWh on-peak and off-peak• Additional 8 MW (cycling): $0.0648/kWh on-peak and off-peak

GEOTHERMAL HISTORY IN HAWAII
Prior to PGV, the first geothermal production well in Hawaii was drilled in 1976 by the University of Hawaii in thelower Kilauea East Rift Zone on the southeast side of Hawaii island: the Hawaii Geothermal Project – Well A (HGP-A).
In 1982, the U.S. Department of Energy developed a 3 MW experimental power plant at the site, which was shut
down in the late 1980s.

GEOTHERMAL PLANNING, POTENTIAL, AND EXPLORATION
Geothermal resources in Hawaii are difficult to fully characterize without exploration and drilling because Hawaii’s
high-temperature resources – some of the world’s hottest – are generally found deep beneath the ground surface.
Hawaiian Electric’s Power Supply Improvement Plan (PSIP) Update Report: December 2016 (Hawaii Public Utilities
Commission Docket No. 2014-0183) forecasts 40 MW of new geothermal development on Maui by 2040 and an
additional 40 MW of geothermal on Hawaii island by 2030. Studies indicate the islands of Maui and Hawaii combined
have a minimum potential geothermal capacity of 525 MW, with a more likely combined capacity of 1,535 MW(GeothermEx, Inc., 2005). Other Hawaiian islands, particularly Kauai and Oahu, do not show as much potential for
geothermal development, but are still under consideration for additional study and possible use, as are Molokai and
Lanai.
Geothermal’s promise as a firm, cost-competitive source of baseload renewable energy continues to encourage
exploratory efforts to better understand Hawaii’s geothermal resource potential. Typical ‘non-invasive’ exploratory
data gathering techniques used in Hawaii include: literary and oral research; magnetotellurics (MT), which uses
electromagnetic signals to detect subsurface electrical conductivity; water sampling to detect chemical composition;
and, computer modeling. Recently completed surficial geophysical studies in the Saddle Road area of Hawaii island
indicate the potential presence of geothermal and groundwater activity in this region (Final Report: Magnetotelluric
and AudioMagnetotelluric Surveys on DHHL Lands Mauna Kea East Flank, 2016).

20 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Geothermal
The Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center (HGGRC) catalogs much of the completed and ongoinggeothermal-related explorations in Hawaii. Visit HGGRC at https://www.higp.hawaii.edu/hggrc/.

Fig. 15. Phase 2 Updated Hawaii Geothermal Resource Probability Map, Hawaii Play Fairway Project

The ongoing Hawaii Play Fairway Project, managed by HGGRC and funded up to $1.5M by the U.S. Department ofEnergy Geothermal Technologies Office, will provide the first statewide geothermal resource assessment conductedsince the late 1970s. Phase I, completed in 2015, involved the identification, compilation, and ranking of existinggeologic, groundwater, and geophysical datasets relevant to subsurface heat, fluid, and permeability in Hawaii. Phase
II, completed in 2017, involved the collection new groundwater data in 10 locations across the state and new
geophysical data on Lanai, Maui, and central Hawaii island, modeling the typography of the areas of interest to bettercharacterize subsurface permeability, and the development of an updated geothermal resource probability map.
Phase III involves the collection and analysis of scientific data from existing well sites and may include drilling of ageothermal test well (“slim hole”) at one of the high probability locations determined through Phases I and II. Resultsfrom the Hawaii Play Fairway Project will also indicate areas warranting additional geothermal resource exploration.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Geothermal energy offers some environmental benefits because it can generate minimal emissions andmanufactured wastes if designed and regulated properly and provides a constant (24 hours a day) source of reliable
power at around 90 percent output capacity to replace firm power fossil fuels. However, if not regulated, designed,and operated properly, geothermal exploration and production technologies have the potential to negatively impact
the surrounding environment and human populations. Numerous federal, state, and county regulations are in place
to govern geothermal developments.
In Hawaii, concerns about geothermal’s impacts to human health and the environment are well documented andhave led to more stringent local regulations in some cases (i.e., night-time drilling ban on Hawaii island within one
mile of nearest residence). One of the primary concerns in Hawaii is the release of hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gasthat can cause acute and chronic respiratory conditions in humans and acidic environmental conditions.

21 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Geothermal
Air monitoring, materials handling, and other controls are required to regulate planned and unplanned emission
releases. The noise and lighting caused by drilling and plant operations can also impact nearby communities andoften requires mitigation or avoidance measures. Also of concern is the potential risk to groundwater from theinjection or inadvertent release of used geothermal fluids being extracted or injected back into the earth. Stringent
well operations and drilling regulations, treatment of these fluids to match their extraction composition, andinjection far below groundwater tables can mitigate this risk. Any new geothermal developments in Hawaii require
thoughtful planning, comprehensive environmental impact analysis, and considerable community engagement prior
to deciding on the viability of a given project.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATONSThe extraction and use of Hawaii’s geothermal resources, including water and volcanic materials, requires carefulconsideration of the cultural values placed on those resources and their contemporary cultural uses. The native
religion of the Hawaiian people has many deities connected to Hawaii’s natural resources, including Pele, widely
known as the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Some Native Hawaiian religion practitioners have opposed geothermal
in Hawaii for religious reasons, which is documented by a lengthy history of litigation and administrative procedures.
Conversely, some Native Hawaiian religion practitioners view geothermal as a gift to the people of Hawaii. As with alllarge energy developments, any new geothermal developments in Hawaii must include extensive consultation withNative Hawaiians and others to identify and discuss cultural impact considerations.

22 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Hydropower
Hydropower or hydroelectricity was the first renewable energy technology used to generate electricity in Hawaii –plants date back to 1888. Early hydroelectric facilities were in Honolulu, Hilo, and on the island of Kauai. The Puueo
Hydropower facility on Wailuku River on Hawaii Island was originally built in 1910 and remains operational today.
During the sugarcane era, additional hydroelectric plants were installed to help power sugar operations and likely
contributed to a significant percentage of the area population’s overall energy needs. The technology is fullycommercial and reliable but is limited by fluctuating water levels in Hawaii’s streams and irrigation ditches. Due to
Hawaii’s geology, run-of-the-river and run-of-the-ditch systems, which have no dams, are the prevalent hydropower
technology.

CURRENT PRODUCTION
Several small home-scale plants, commercial andmunicipal installations, and utility-scalehydropower facilities are currently in operation in
Hawaii. Hawaii currently has about 27 megawatts(MW) of installed hydroelectricity capacity
statewide. Hawaii’s largest hydropower plant is
the 12.1 MW Wailuku River plant on Hawaii Islandand the smallest is the 6.7 kWac Ainako Hydro
project developed and used by a community
Fig. 16. Wailuku River Hydropower Plant, HELCO
group on Hawaii Island. The Hawaii
County Department of Water Supply (DWS) has
three small in-line hydropower plants under 100 kilowatts that capture the energy from pipes carrying water to DWS
customers in West Hawaii. In 2018, hydropower accounted for 0.72 percent of the total energy distributed by
Hawaii’s electric utilities statewide (2018 Renewable Portfolio Standard Status Reports). In 2018, hydropower
represented 6.6 percent of the total electricity sold by KIUC on Kauai and 5.9 percent of the electricity sold by HELCO
on the island of Hawaii, the two islands with the most hydropower in operation.

HYDROPOWER PRICINGPer the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018, the average 2018 fiscal year energy
prices for some of Hawaii’s hydropower plants are:
• Green Energy Hydro: $0.1182/kWh• Kauai Coffee Hydro: $0.201/kWh• Kekaha Agricultural Association Hydro: $0.0857/kWh• Makila Hydro: $0.134/kWh (on-peak), $0.127/kWh (off-peak)• Wailuku River Hydro: $0.128/kWh (on-peak), $0.13/kWh (off-peak)

PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER
Pumped storage hydro uses a non-hydro source of electricity (e.g., wind, solar, conventional generation) to pumpwater from one reservoir to a second, higher reservoir. The water stored in the upper reservoir can be released asneeded, running through a turbine on the way back down and generating power like a normal hydropower unit. KIUC
continues to pursue the development of a new 25 MW pumped storage hydropower project on the westside of Kauai,
utilizing the Puu Lua Reservoir, Puu Opae Reservoir, and Kokee Ditch, which could provide more than 20 percent of
the island’s annual electricity requirements. Other reservoirs on Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu (Lake Wilson, Nuuanu) havealso garnered attention for their pumped storage use potential.

HAWAII HYDROPOWER ASSESSMENT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) conducted a Hydroelectric Power Assessment for the State of Hawaii in
2011, which is a feasibility study that identifies, evaluates, and recommends solutions to address the potential
hydroelectric power needs in the State of Hawaii. USACOE studied more than 160 hydro sites and ocean energy areas
across Hawaii as part of this assessment.
23 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Hydropower
Table 10: HYDROPOWER PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project Name
Ainako (Wenko) Hydro

IslandHawaii

Location
Hilo

Capacity
6.7 kWac

Project Status
Existing/Operational

Gay & Robinson Olokele Hydro Project

Kauai

Kaumakani

1.3 MW

Existing/Operational

Green Energy Hydro

Kauai

Koloa

125 kW

Existing/Operational

Hamakua Springs Country Farms Hydroelectric
Project
Kahaluu Shaft Hydro

Hawaii

Pepeekeo

93 kW

Existing/Operational

HawaiiKahaluu

42 kW

Existing/Operational

Kaloko Tank No. 2 Hydro

Hawaii

Kaloko50 kW

Existing/Operational

Kauai Coffee Kalaheo Hydro Facility

Kauai

Kalaheo

1 MW

Existing/Operational

Kauai Coffee Wainiha Hydro Facility

Kauai

4 MW

Existing/Operational

Makila Hydro Plant

Maui

WainihaValleyLahaina

500 kW

Existing/Operational

Palm Valley Farm (Hoowaiwai Farm Estate) Hydro

Hawaii

Papaikou

80 kW

Existing/Operational

Puueo Hydroelectric Plant

HawaiiHilo

3.25 MW

Existing/Operational

Waiahi (Lower) Hydropower Plant

Kauai

Lihue

800 kW

Existing/Operational

Waiahi (Upper) Hydropower Plant

Kauai

Lihue

500 kW

Existing/Operational

Waiau Hydroelectric Plant + Repowering Project

HawaiiHilo

1.1 MW

Existing/Operational

Waiawa Hydropower Plant (KAA Hydro Waimea)

Kauai

Waimea500 kW

Existing/Operational

Wailuku River Hydroelectric Plant

HawaiiHilo12.1 MW

Existing/Operational

Waimea Hydropower Plant (KAA Hydro Mauka)

Kauai

Waimea1.25 MW

Existing/Operational

Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant Hydro

Hawaii

Waimea32 kW

Existing/Operational

Gay & Robinson Olokele Hydro Project Expansion

Kauai

Kaumakani

6 MW

Hawaii Water Service Co. (Waikoloa Resort
Utilities) Inline Hydro Plant
Innovative Power Projects Pumped Storage
Project (Proposed)
Molokai Irrigation System Hydropower Plant

Hawaii

100 kW

West Kauai Energy Project (Puu Opae Pumped
Storage Hydro Project)

Kauai

Waikoloa
VillageSouth Maui(unknown)
Molokai
Ranch
KekahaProposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development

Maui
Molokai

40 MW + 8
Hrs Storage
100 kW
25 MW

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONSHydropower projects have the potential for significant agricultural, cultural, ecological, environmental and otherimpacts including those to other water users. Any proposed projects with potential to impact Hawaii’s surface
waterways will undergo intense regulatory and community scrutiny to ensure protection of the impacted species
and ecologies, and adequate water for downstream users (taro and other farmers, recreational users). If done
properly, hydropower can support and benefit the resources, water uses, and other activities that depend upon
Hawaii’s surface waters.

24 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Ocean and Marine Hydrokinetic Energy
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is rich in ocean and marine renewable energy resources. Ocean or marine
energy includes both hydrokinetic and thermal resources. Hydrokinetic technologies tap the movement in theocean—waves, currents and tides—to generate electricity. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) makes use of
the temperature differences between warm surface waters and cold, deep ocean waters. Hawaii has superior
potential for wave energy and OTEC, however, does not currently depend on wave or OTEC for any substantive
energy production. Ocean current and tidal resources are not as promising in Hawaii due to its relatively mild tidal
shifts compared to other parts of the world. Ocean energy technology continues to evolve as numerous ocean energy
research, development, and demonstration projects are taking place in Hawaii and elsewhere in the world.

CURRENT PRODUCTION
The first ocean wave-generated electricity ever transmitted to the gridin the United States was generated by an Ocean Power Technologies(OPT) PowerBuoy at Kaneohe Bay in 2010. In a cooperative programwith the U.S. Navy, three OPT buoys were deployed from 2004 to 2011.
The U.S. Navy partnered with the Hawaii National Marine Renewable
Energy Center (HINMREC) at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, one ofthree federally-funded centers for marine energy research anddevelopment in the nation, to establish a multiple-berth deep water
wave energy test site (WETS) in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu. Located on theseafloor approximately 200-260 feet deep, approximately 6,500-8,200
feet offshore, the purpose of the WETS is to collect and analyze wave
buoy equipment performance (grid-connected), cost, and durability(which will help guide industry design improvements), as well as
monitor environmental impacts from wave energy technologies (EMF,
sediment, ecology).

Fig. 17. Wave Energy Test Site, Kaneohe Bay,Oahu, HINMREC

With the WETS infrastructure secured in place, various wave energy
conversion units will be connected and tested for one year or more. According
to reports, the WETS is the first grid-connected wave test facility in the U.S. forcommercial-scale WECs. Data from the wave buoys connected to the WETS
will be collected and analyzed by the U.S. Navy, USDOE, and HINMREC. The
first new tenant, Northwest Energy Innovations (NWEI), deployed its first
Azura prototype wave buoy at the WETS 30-meter-deep berth. Other
companies with wave energy devices connected to the WETS include Fred
Olsen Ltd. And Columbia Power Technologies. Ocean Energy plans to connect
its 1.25 MW capacity prototype OE Buoy built by Vigor to WETS in 2019.
Fig. 18. Lifesaver Wave Energy Device at
WETS, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu

OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC)The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) at Keahole Point, Kona, Hawaii, is among the world’s
premier OTEC research centers. NELHA’s Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park houses enterprises thattest renewable energy technologies on the cusp of commercialization. Major milestones in OTEC were achieved at
NELHA in the 1980s and 1990s, including a 1 MW floating OTEC pilot plant, Mini-OTEC (the world’s first
demonstration of net power output from a closed-cycle plant) and other demonstrations in both open- and closedcycle OTEC.

25 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Ocean and Marine Hydrokinetic Energy
NELHA’s cold seawater supply pipes are the deepest largediameter pipelines in the world’s oceans, extending to 2,000-footdepths; providing a temperature variance between 6°C (43°F) at
lower depths to 24° – 28.5°C (75° – 83°F) near the surface. The
laboratory’s location, with access to both warm surface water andcold deep ocean water, makes it a prime site for OTEC R&D.
Presently, Makai Ocean Engineering is operating Hawaii's only
operational OTEC Pilot Project: a heat exchanger test facility at
NELHA that tests components and materials. A 100-kilowatt (kW)OTEC generator has been added to the test facility and became
operational in August 2015. A 1 megawatt (MW) OTEC
demonstration facility at NELHA is in the planning stages andpower plants up to 100 MW in capacity have previously beenFig. 19. OTEC Pilot Project, Keahole Point, Kona
proposed for locations off Oahu.

OCEAN AND MARINE ENERGY PRICING
To date no power purchase agreements for ocean or marine energy projects have been filed with the Hawaii Public
Utilities Commission.

TIDAL POWER
Hawaii’s lack of extreme tidal shifts has thus far discouraged the deployment of demonstration projects to convert
tidal shifts to electrical energy.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATONS
Ocean and marine energy generation projects have the potential for significant ecological, recreational, commercial,environmental, cultural, and other impacts. Any proposed projects with potential to impact Hawaii’s ocean waters
and uses will undergo intense regulatory and community scrutiny to ensure conservation of the impacted species andecologies, protection of commercial and recreational ocean uses, and safeguards in case of unintended releases(water or equipment detached from seafloor).

26 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Photovoltaic (Utility-Scale)Due to Hawaii’s high-electricity prices, abundant solar
resource, and progressive energy policies, the state has
experienced unprecedented growth in solar generation.
In recent years solar has become the primary renewableenergy resource in Hawaii. Most solar generation isprovided by distributed customer photovoltaic (PV)systems discussed more below (Distributed Energy
Resource Programs). While there are many largecommercial and utility solar (PV) installations in Hawaii
on rooftops, carports, and the ground, the term “utilityscale” for the purposes of this document refers primarily
to larger ground-mounted solar farms that sell power tothe local electric utility.
Fig. 20. EE Waianae Solar Project, Eurus Energy, Waianae,
Oahu

CURRENT PRODUCTION
Utility-scale PV contributed approximately 8.6 percent towards Hawaii’s RPS in 2018. There are also numerous large
solar projects under development or procurement expected to go online in 2019 and more projects scheduled forcompletion by 2022.

Table 11: UTILITY-SCALE PV PRICINGPer the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018, the average 2018 fiscal year energy
prices for some of Hawaii’s solar PV projects are:
AES Lawai: $0.110/kWh (PPA price)

KRS1 Anahola: $0.128/kWh

EE Waianae Solar: $0.145/kWh

KRS2 Koloa: $0.122/kWh

Kalaeloa Renewable Energy Park: $0.216/kWh

Kuia Solar: $0.11/kWh (PPA price)

Kalaeloa Solar Two: $0.2183/kWh

Port Allen/McBryde: $0.20/kWh

Kapaa Solar: $0.20/kWh

SolarCity/Tesla Solar (Lihue): $0.139/kWh

Kapolei Sustainable Energy Park: $0.236/kWh

South Maui Renewable Resources: $0.1106/kWh

Per the power purchase agreements filed with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, energy prices for some of themore recent utility-scale solar PV projects proposed or under development are:
AES Kekaha (PMRF): $0.1085/kWh

Lanikuhana Solar: $0.13/kWh

AES Kuihelani + AES Waikoloa: $0.08/kWh

Mililani 1 Solar Project: $0.09/kWh

AES West Oahu: $0.1056/kWh

Molokai New Energy Partners: $0.18/kWh

Hale Kuawehi Solar Project: $0.09/kWh

Waiawa Solar Power: $0.10/kWh

Hoohana Solar 1 Project: $0.10/kWh

Waipio PV: $0.121/kWh

Kawailoa Solar: $0.127/kWh

West Loch PV Project: $0.0954/kWh

27 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Photovoltaic (Utility-Scale)
Table 12: UTILITY-SCALE PV PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project Name
AES Lawai Solar Project

IslandKauai

Location
Lawai

Project Status
Existing/Operational

Nanakuli

Capacity
20MWac/28MWdc +100MWh5 MWac / 6.2 MWdc

Aloha Solar Energy Fund I
Solar Project
Cyanotech Solar Array
Dole Plantation SolarArray
EE Waianae Solar
Hawaii American Water
Solar Array
Hawaii FIT Forty, LLC
Hawaii FIT Two
Kahumana PV
Kalaeloa Renewable
Energy Park
Kalaeloa Solar Power II
Kapaa Solar Project
Kapolei Sustainable
Energy ParkKRS1 Anahola Solar FarmKRS2 Koloa Solar Farm
Kuia Solar Project

Oahu
HawaiiOahu

Kailua-Kona
Wahiawa

500 kW
500 kW

Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational

Oahu
Oahu

Waianae
Hawaii Kai

27.6 MWac
250 kW

Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational

Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Oahu

Waianae
Waianae
Waianae
Kalaeloa

570 kWdc
596.7 kWdc
245 Kw
5 MW

Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational

Oahu
Kauai
Oahu

Kalaeloa
Kapaa
Kapolei

5 MW
1 MW
1 MW

Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational

Kauai
Kauai
Maui

AnaholaKoloa
Lahaina

Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational

La Ola Solar Farm (Lanai
Sustainability Research)
MP2 Kaneshiro Solar
Project
Pearl City Peninsula PV
Port Allen (McBryde)
Solar Facility
SolarCity Tesla Solar
Project
South Maui Renewable
Resources Solar Project
University of Hawaii-WestOahu Solar PV System
Waianae PV-2 Solar Farm
Waihonu North Solar Farm
Waihonu South Solar Farm
Waimea Research Center PV
Facility
Waipio Solar Facility

Lanai

Lanai City

12 MWac
12 MWac2.87 MWac / 3.794
MWdc
1.2 MWac

Kauai

Lawai

300 kW

Existing/Operational

Oahu
Kauai

Pearl Harbor
Eleele1.23 MW
6 MW

Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational

Kauai

Lihue

13 MWac / 17 MWdc

Existing/Operational

Maui

Kihei

Existing/Operational

Oahu

Kapolei

2.87 MWac / 3.794
MWdc
500 kW

Oahu
Oahu
Oahu
Kauai

500 kW
5 MW
1.5 MW
250 kW

Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational
Existing/Operational

11 MWac / 14.3 MWdc

Existing/Operational

Wilcox Memorial Hospital
Solar Photovoltaic Farm

Kauai

Waianae
Mililani
Mililani
Waimea ResearchCenterJoint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Lihue

500 kW

Existing/Operational

Oahu

Existing/Operational

Existing/Operational

Existing/Operational

28 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Photovoltaic (Utility-Scale)
UTILITY-SCALE PV PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project NameAES Kekaha (PMRF) Solar
Project
AES Kuihelani Solar
Project
AES Waikoloa Solar
Project
AES West Oahu Solar

IslandKauai
Maui

Location
Barking Sands,
KekahaWaikapu

Capacity
14MWac/19.3MWdc +70MWh
60 MW + 240 MWh BESS

Hawaii

Waikoloa

30 MW + 120 MWh BESS

Oahu

Kapolei

Coconut Island Microgrid

Oahu

Kaneohe Bay

12.5 MWac / + 50 MWh
BESS
500 kW

H-POWER Photovoltaic
Systems
Hale Kuawehi Solar
Project
Hawaii Agriculture
Research Center/Pioneer
Hi-Bred Solar Energy Facility
Hawaii SunShot Desal
Project
Hoohana Solar 1 Solar
Project
Hoolehua Water System
Solar System
Kawailoa SolarOahu

3 - 3.5 MW

Hawaii

Kapolei (Campbell
Industrial Park)
Waimea

Oahu

Kunia

500 kW

Hawaii

Kailua-Kona

Demonstration

Oahu

Kunia

52 MW + 218 MWh BESS

Molokai

Hoolehua

1 MW

Oahu

Kawailoa / Haleiwa

49 MW

Lanikuhana Solar
(Mililani Solar)
Mauka FIT One PV Project

Oahu

Mililani

14.7 MW

Oahu

Kahuku3.5 MW

Mililani I Solar Project

Oahu

Mililani

Molokai New Energy
Partners Solar Project
Na Puu Water Inc.
Photovoltaic Array
Ocean View Solar Projects(26)
Paeahu Solar Project

Molokai

Umipaa/Kaunakakai

Hawaii
HawaiiPuuanahulu-Puu
WaawaaOcean View

39 MWac + 156 MWh
BESS
4.88 MWac + 3 MW
BESS
650 - 780 kW

Maui

Wailea15 MW + 60 MWh BESS

Parker Ranch Microgrid

Hawaii

Waimea400 kE

30 MW + 120 MWh BESS

6.75 MW Total

Project Status
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development

29 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Photovoltaic (Utility-Scale)
UTILITY-SCALE PV PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project Name
Proposed Hoopili Solar Farm

IslandOahu

Location
East Kapolei

Capacity
5 MW

University of HawaiiKapiolani Community
College Solar + Storage
Project
Waiawa Solar Power
Project
Waipio (Waiawa) PV

Oahu

Kahala / Kaimuki

1.738 MWh + 6.31 MWh
BESS

Oahu

Pearl City

Oahu

Waiawa36 MWac + 144 MWh
BESS
46 MWac

West Loch PV Project

Oahu

Joint Base Pearl
Harbor-Hickam

20MWac/28MWdc +20MW BESS

Project Status
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development

Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development
Proposed/Under
Development

30 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Photovoltaic (Utility-Scale)
HAWAII BRIGHTFIELDS INITIATIVE
Contaminated and underutilized sites can be preferred for renewable energy development for numerous reasons:pre-developed sites tend to be more develop-ready (graded, on-site utilities or infrastructure, site access, permits)and closer to the power grid; re-use of sites can preserve untouched lands; and, projects that support site
remediation for renewable energy support multiple State of Hawaii policies. In 2018 HSEO partnered with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response(HEER) Office retain services from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to create a master database ofcontaminated sites in Hawaii with data relevant to determine site renewable energy development potential. HSEO
and HEER are now validating the data for publication in a GIS layer and to pursue individual site assessments andredevelopment and intend to publish these resources in the second half of 2019.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Because they often require the flattening of large areas of land prior to development, utility-scale PV projects havethe potential for significant agricultural, cultural, ecological, and other impacts. Field studies and surveys for various
resources – both human-made and natural – must be completed to fully understand the viability of developing a site
for solar energy production. In Hawaii large solar farms can compete with local agricultural needs and can stress
Hawaii’s agricultural industry. Solar developers should not target land currently used or planned for use by
agricultural operations or land that has been identified or classified as good for agricultural use. Any proposed
projects with potential to impact Hawaii’s agricultural sector or its natural environment will undergo intense
regulatory and community scrutiny to ensure protection of these resources. If done properly, PV projects can benefit
Hawaii’s agricultural industry.

31 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Wind
Humans have been harnessing wind energy for centuries. Wind energy, while not firm, is a proven renewable energy
resource in Hawaii that can operate 24-hours a day. Wind energy is Hawaii’s second most utilized renewable energy
resource behind distributed solar, accounting for the following in 2018 (2018 Renewable Portfolio Standard Status
Reports):• 23.9 percent of Hawaii’s statewide renewable energy portfolio• 6.6 percent of Hawaii’s statewide electrical energy sales• 3.1 percent of Oahu’s electrical energy sales• 23.1 percent of Maui’s electrical energy sales• 13.8 percent of Hawaii island’s electrical energy sales

CURRENT WIND PRODUCTION
There are currently eight existing utility-scale wind energy
projects in Hawaii located on the islands of Oahu, Maui, andHawaii. Demonstrating Hawaii’s limited geography, the average
acres per megawatt (MW) ratio of these eight Hawaii wind farms
is 13.8 acres/MW, ranging from 38.1 MW/acre (Lalamilo Wind
Farm) to 3.2 MW/acre (Auwahi Wind Farm). No wind farms exist
on Kauai largely due to Kauai’s protected seabird populations.
There are also numerous smaller, distributed wind turbines (up to
100 kW) currently in operation throughout Hawaii. Hawaii’s windfarms also support other needs including agriculture through colocation of grazing, infrastructure improvements funded by thewind project (water, fencing), resources for protected species
research and conservation, and energy to pump municipal watersupplies.

Fig. 21. Kaheawa Wind Power I, Maui, TerraForm
Power

WIND PRICINGPer the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s Annual Report for fiscal year 2018, the average 2018 fiscal year energy
prices for some of Hawaii’s wind energy projects are:Table 13:
Auwahi Wind Farm: $0.21720/kWh
Hawi Wind Farm: $0.1216/kWh (on-peak), $0.1241/
kWh (off-peak)
Kaheawa Wind Power I: $0.13624/kWh (on-peak),$0.12793/kWh (off-peak)
Kaheawa Wind Power II: $0.20767/kWh

Kahuku Wind Power: $0.2055/kWh
Kawailoa Wind: $0.219/kWh
Pakini Nui Wind Farm: $0.118/kWh (on-peak), $0.112/
kWh (off-peak)
Lalamilo Wind Farm Repowering Project sells power
directly to Hawaii County

Per the power purchase agreements filed with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, energy prices for two of themore recent large wind projects proposed or under development on Oahu are:
Na Pua Makani Wind Farm: $0.139/kWh

Palehua Wind Project: $0.109/kWh

32 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Wind
Table 14: WIND PROJECTS IN THE HAWAII RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
Project Name
IslandLocation
Capacity
Project Status
Auwahi Wind Farm
Maui
Ulupalakua
21 MW
Existing/Operational
Hawi Wind Farm
Hawaii
Upolu Point
10.56 MW
Existing/Operational
Kaheawa Wind Power I
Maui
Kaheawa
30 MW
Existing/Operational
Kaheawa Wind Power II
Maui
Kaheawa
21 MW + 10 MW Existing/Operational
BESS
Kahuku Wind Farm
Oahu
Kahuku30 MW
Existing/Operational
Kawailoa Wind
Oahu
Kawailoa /69 MW
Existing/Operational
Haleiwa
Lalamilo Wind Farm Repowering
Hawaii
Lalamilo
3.3 MW
Existing/Operational
Project
North Kohala Microgrid Project
HawaiiNorth Kohala 100 kW
Existing/Operational
Pakini Nui Wind Farm
Hawaii
Ka Lae (South 20.5 MW
Existing/Operational
Point)Na Pua Makani Wind Project
Oahu
Kahuku24 MW
Proposed/Under
Development
Palehua Wind Project
Oahu
Waianae46.8 MW
Proposed/Under
Development

HISTORY OF WIND IN HAWAIIIn Hawaii the first wind farm was built in the 1980s by Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) in Kahuku, Oahu:
a 9-megawatt (MW) wind farm that was later supplemented by a 3.2 MW wind turbine at the same location, the360-ft. MOD-5-B, which was then the world's largest horizontal axis wind turbine. The Kahuku wind farm experienced
winds that were more turbulent than expected and mechanical problems with the first-generation turbines resulted
in low energy production. In the mid-1980s, Maui Electric Company (MECO) hosted a 340-kilowatt (kW) wind turbine
demonstration unit for several years at its Maalaea facility and operated it until the end of its useful life.

WIND POTENTIAL IN HAWAII
Hawaii has one of the most robust and consistent wind regimes in the world, with capacity factors exceeding thosecommonly found elsewhere. In 2011 the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated the capacity factorof the Pakini Nui Wind Farm on the Big Island at 65 percent, Kaheawa Wind Power I on Maui at 47 percent, and theHawi Renewables Wind Farm on the Big Island at 45 percent. Hawaii’s strong wind regime and aggressive renewableenergy goals are reflected by the amount of wind power Hawaii’s electrical utilities plan to integrate into theirrespective grids by the year 2045. The Hawaiian Electric Companies’ Power Supply Improvement Plan (PSIP) Update
Report: December 2016 plans for up to an additional 64 megawatts (MW) of onshore wind on Oahu by the year 2045,
and up to 200 to 800 MW of offshore wind of Oahu by 2045. The Hawaiian Electric Companies plan for between 42
MW to 150 MW of new onshore wind on Maui by 2045, up to 5 MW of new wind on Molokai by 2020, and up to 102
MW of additional wind on Hawaii Island. The current plan estimates this amount of wind, in combination of manyother types of renewable energy, could be needed to get Hawaii to 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2045.
This plan is subject to stakeholder review and approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and does notguarantee any of the proposed MW will be installed, but they do provide options for planning consideration.

33 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Wind
OFFSHORE WIND
In response to an invitation from then-Gov. Neil Abercrombie, in 2011-2012
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) established the BOEM/
Hawaii Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to promoteplanning and coordination, and to facilitate effective and efficient review ofrequests for commercial and research seafloor leases and right-of-way
grants for power cables on the federal outer continental shelf (OCS), which
begins three nautical miles offshore Hawaii. Members of the Task Force,
whose meetings and matters are open to the public, include
representatives of federal, state, and local government agencies. Attention
to offshore wind in Hawaii has increased following notice of multiple
unsolicited applications received by BOEM for seafloor lease applications
for wind farms off-shore of Oahu; currently, still undergoing BOEM review.
Multiple public meetings were conducted in 2016, with community
members and other stakeholders voicing concerns, recommendations, andother opinions about the prospect of wind turbines off of Oahu’s South andNorthwest shores. In its last update, BOEM notified its Hawaii Task
Fig. 22. Areas Suitable for Wind Offshore ofMembers it is still working to determine whether an area offshore Oahu isOahu, US Bureau of Ocean Energy
suitable for commercial wind leasing. BOEM’s determination is still
Management
pending.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONSGiven the size of today’s utility-scale turbines and their potential impacts, careful consideration and stakeholder
input is needed in the project siting phase. Many potential impacts must be considered:• The presence of protected or endangered birds or bats, plant species, or critical habitats in or around the projectsite will significantly impact the siting, development, and operation of wind projects in Hawaii. Significant
ecological monitoring is required early in the project siting phase. The appropriate regulation of certain species
with less available data, such as the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, is evolving as regulators and wind developers continue
to better understand the species and the measures available to limit their harm. Completed and upcoming
research on the Hawaiian Hoary Bat by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S.
Geological Survey will help inform all stakeholders. The increased level of ecological monitoring required for
proposed and existing wind farms in Hawaii has also expanded the amount of information available on theimpacted species and habitats. In 2018 four Hawaii wind projects initiated the process to increase the taking of
the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat, Hawaiian nene goose, and the Hawaiian petrel. In June 2018, the U.S Fish
and Wildlife Service published notice of its intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
addressing the potential impacts from the alternatives described in habitat conservation plans (HCPs) for theincreased takes proposed by these projects.
• Given the size of large-scale wind turbines and limited sites suitable for wind development in Hawaii, visual andcultural impacts must be thoroughly identified and assessed early in the project siting phase. Developers need towork closely with local communities early in the process to identify important community resources and values,
which are core to the appropriateness of project siting. View planes are valued by local residents and the tourism
industry and are valued by Native Hawaiian religion practitioners to communicate between sites of cultural
significance. Developers must account for day and night visuals, including warning lights required for aviation
safety.
• Due to the military, commercial, and recreational air traffic in Hawaii, early due diligence and outreach is needed
to identify and address potential encroachment issues caused by wind turbines near flight paths.
• Hawaii topography and infrastructure can make on-land transport of large wind equipment difficult in certain
areas. Roadwork may be required in some cases, as well as roadway shutdowns and other approvals. Temporarystorage of large equipment also can be challenging.
• The intermittent nature of Hawaii’s wind resource can make integration into the electrical grid a challenge.
Mitigation measures, such as forecasting, controls, and improved communication technologies can help mitigate
some of these concerns. Storage technologies are increasingly incorporated to help integrate wind power moresmoothly into the electrical grid.
34 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Utility Renewable Energy Procurement
Each Hawaiian Island with a utility presence has its own independent electrical grid (Niihau and Kahoolawe do nothave electrical utilities), which can make the integration of high amounts of renewable energy challenging. MECO andHELCO are subsidiaries of HECO, which is owned by the publicly-traded, investor-owned parent company, Hawaiian
Electric Industries. Collectively referred to as Hawaiian Electric Companies, HECO, MECO, and HELCO provide power
to the vast majority (about 95 percent) of Hawaii’s population. KIUC services the remaining population on Kauai. In
addition to its electrical utilities, Hawaii’s has one franchised gas utility, Hawaii Gas, that services the islands of Kauai,Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii Island through installed gas pipeline infrastructure in some areas, bulk
storage facilities, and mobile gas equipment and tanks.

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission regulates Hawaii’s electrical utilities including the review and approvalof certain individual renewable energy projects and programs. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s Document
Management System provides an online service to review dockets and filings related to renewable energy projects
and programs. Most significant renewable energy projects and programs in Hawaii will have a corresponding docket
and docket number created when the utility initially files a power or fuel purchase contract with the Hawaii Public
Utilities Commission. The Hawaii Division of Consumer Advocacy (DCA) protects and advances the interests of
Hawaii’s consumers of regulated public utilities and transportation services. DCA is a party to all dockets involving
renewable energy projects and programs. Other public and private entities can become parties to individual dockets
under certain proceedings.

COMPETITIVE BIDDING FRAMEWORK
HECO, MECO, and HELCO are required to follow the “Competitive Bidding Framework” for new generation projects
greater than 5 MW on Oahu and 2.72 MW on Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii Island. For more information on
ongoing competitive bidding processes or requests for proposals from HECO, MECO, and HELCO, visit Hawaiian
Electric’s Producing Clean Energy website. Alternatively, HECO, MECO, and HELCO may apply to the Hawaii Public
Utilities Commission to receive a waiver of the competitive bidding requirements for certain projects that are noteligible or compatible with the competitive bidding process, which can include self-build projects initiated by theutilities and projects that do not conform to ongoing requests for proposals. Because it is not subject to theCompetitive Bidding Framework, KIUC has more flexibility on procuring or developing new renewable energy projects
but must still seek Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approval for large renewable energy projects. KIUC offers avariety of programs and tariffs.

POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND FUEL SUPPLY CONTRACTS
Power purchase agreements (PPA) are contracts between independent power producers (e.g., wind farm, solar farm,biomass plant) and Hawaii’s regulated electric utilities in which the producer sells energy to the utility at a contracted
price. Similarly, fuel supply contracts are used by Hawaii’s utilities to purchase fuel (biofuel) that is converted toelectricity and sold to Hawaii ratepayers. These contracts provide the mutual benefit of allowing the utility topurchase a lower cost energy resource as well as enabling the renewable energy developer to secure a longer-term
revenue contract. In Hawaii the Public Utilities Commission must review and approve all PPAs and fuel supply
contracts through its docket process.

SCHEDULE Q PROCUREMENTS
Schedule Q describes the standard rates, terms, and conditions that apply when the utility purchases as-available orexcess energy from customers with small cogeneration and/or small power production facilities of 100 kW or less incapacity.

35 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Programs
A number of potential customer sited renewable generation programs are available in the state: Net Energy Metering Customer Self-Supply
 Net Energy Metering Plus Smart Export
 Customer Grid Supply Standard Interconnection Agreement
 Customer Grid Supply Plus Feed-In Tariff
Distributed energy resources (DER) include all customer owned or sited photovoltaic (PV) installations that remain
connected to the electrical grid. DER installations are currently the largest collective source of renewable energy
generation in Hawaii. In 2018 DER installations accounted for an estimated 39.6% of Hawaii’s renewable energy
portfolio and 10.9% of all electrical energy sales in Hawaii (Renewable Portfolio Standard Annual Reports (Hawaii
Public Utilities Commission Docket No. 2007-0008). In January 2019 the Hawaiian Electric Companies announced an
estimated 74,331 total residential rooftop installations across Oahu (51,087), Maui County (11,414), and Hawaii
Island (11,830). The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative estimates 22 megawatts of distributed PV on Kauai by early 2019.

Fig. 23

NET ENERGY METERING (NEM)
NEM is now closed to new applicants. Previously, the NEM program was available to permanent customers who own(or lease from a third party) a solar energy generating facility, that was located on their own property, and had acapacity of 100 kWh or less. Under the NEM program:• Customers receive a credit at retail rate for electricity exported to the grid.
• If a customer uses more electricity than is exported (net-consumer), the customer is charged for that net amountof electricity used.
• If a customer exports more electricity than is used (net-producer), the customer is charged a minimum bill (e.g.
$17 for Oahu residential customers) and is allowed to carry any excess credits forward to the next month.
• At the end of the customer’s 12-month billing cycle any excess credit are forfeited or used to reimburse anyenergy charges previously paid.

36 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Programs
NET ENERGY METERING PLUS (NEM PLUS)
NEM Plus program affords existing NEM customers with a signed NEM agreement to add additional non-export
renewable capacity to their existing NEM system. According to HECO, NEM Plus allows customers to “install newpanels, battery storage or a combination of both under this program. The output from the NEM Plus system is usedsolely on-site and is not allowed to export to the grid. The addition of the NEM Plus system does not affect thecustomer’s existing NEM agreement.”

CUSTOMER GRID-SUPPLY (CGS)The CGS program allows customers to install private rooftop solar or other renewables that export energy to theelectric grid throughout the day. When the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission established this interim program, they
established a cap for each of the HECO Companies’ service territories. These caps were established as the Public
Utilities Commission concluded that it was not in the public interest to allow unconstrained growth in the grid-supply
option, particularly if such growth comes at the expense of future opportunities to acquire even lower-cost
renewable energy from other sources or prevents the HECO Companies from offering community-based renewableenergy options for their customers. By September 2016, all three HECO Companies met their designated cap limits
and additional capacity was added to CGS from capacity available from NEM applications that were cancelled orwithdrawn.

Table 15: Overall CGS program capacity limits.
Original Capacity (MWac)

Added Capacity (MWac)

Total Capacity (MWac)*

Hawaiian Electric

25.00

26.31

51.31

Maui Electric**

5.00

9.12

14.12

Hawaii Electric

5.00

4.91

9.91

Island*As of Nov. 7, 2017, the CGS program reached the total capacity allotted.
Includes Maui, Molokai and Lanai**

Table 16: Fixed rates for electricity exports to the grid under the CGS program.
IslandCGS Credit Rates***

Hawaii15.14¢/kWh

Maui

17.16¢/kWh

Molokai

24.07¢/kWh

Lanai

27.88¢/kWhOahu

15.07¢/kWh***

Export credits may only be used during the month they are generated. Excess monthly credits expire with the utility cost
reductions benefiting all customers.

37 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Programs
CUSTOMER GRID-SUPPLY PLUS (CGS PLUS)
The CGS Plus program is the next iteration of the original CGS program. Similar to CGS program, the CGS Plus
program allows customers to install private rooftop solar or other renewables that export energy to the electric gridthroughout the day. However, the CGS Plus program does differ from the CGS program, in that it requires the use of
equipment that allows the utility to manage output to maintain safe, reliable grid operations.
Table 17: CGS Plus program’s export fixed rates through October 20, 2022.
IslandCGS Plus Credit Rates****

Hawaii10.55¢/kWh

Maui

12.17¢/kWh

Molokai

16.77¢/kWh

Lanai

20.88¢/kWhOahu

10.08¢/kWh****

Export credits will be trued-up on an annual basis and any remaining credits left over at the end of the year will expire
with the utility cost reductions benefitting all customers.

Table 18: The CGS Plus program has capacity limits that varies by utility and will remain open until the following
installed capacity is reached.
IslandCGS Plus Program Capacity

Hawaii

7 MW

Maui

7 MW

Oahu

35 MW

CUSTOMER SELF-SUPPLY (CSS)The CSS program is intended only for private rooftop solar installations that are designed to not export any electricity
to the grid. Customers are not compensated for any export of energy. CSS systems are also eligible for expedited
review and approval of applications in areas with high levels of PV. Under the CSS program:• Customers are not compensated for electricity exported to the grid.
• Customers pay for the amount of electricity used from the grid.
• A residential customer is charged a minimum monthly bill of $25 for residential customers.

SMART EXPORT
Smart Export allows customers to install a private rooftop solar or other renewable system and a battery energy
storage system. Customers are expected to charge the battery storage system from the rooftop solar or otherrenewable system during the daylight hours (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and use that energy to power their home in theevening. However, customers can receive a credit for any energy exported to the grid during the evening, overnightand early morning hours. Energy exported to the grid during the daylight hours is not compensated. Under Smart
Export, customers receive a monthly bill credit for energy delivered to the grid, which helps to offset the cost ofenergy pulled from the grid when the customer’s system is not producing enough energy to meet the household
demand.

38 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Programs
Table 19: Fixed export credits through October 22, 2022.

Island

12:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Hawaii11.00¢/kWh*

No Credit

11.00¢/kWh*Maui14.41¢/kWh*

No Credit

14.41¢/kWh*

Molokai

16.64¢/kWh*

No Credit

16.64¢/kWh*Lanai

20.79¢/kWh*

No Credit

20.79¢/kWh*Oahu

14.97¢/kWh*

No Credit

14.97¢/kWh**Export credits will be trued-up on an annual basis and any remaining credits left over at the end of the year will expire with the utility cost
reduction benefitting customers.

Table 20: HECO’s Smart Export program has capacity limits that differ by island.

IslandProgram Capacity

Hawaii

5 MW

Maui

5 MW

Oahu

25 MW

STANDARD INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT (SIA)
All permanent customers are eligible to interconnect a renewable or non-renewable energy generating facility
through the SIA program. These systems are not compensated for any power exported to the grid, and in some cases,
are restricted from exporting power. Lastly, there are no capacity restrictions for SIA systems.

FEED-IN TARIFF (FIT)The FIT queue is now closed. Prior to this, renewable electricity suppliers with generators smaller than 5 MW were
eligible to participate in the HECO Companies’ FIT Program, supplying as-available power to the utility at constant,contracted rates over 20 years.
Table 21: Hawaiian Electric Companies' Feed-in Tariff Rates

Tier

1

2

IslandAll

Photovoltaics (PV)Concentrating Solar
Power (CSP)

On-Shore Wind

Rate(¢/kWh)Rate(¢/kWh)

Size
Limit

Rate
(¢/kWh)

Size
Limit

Rate
(¢/kWh)

Size
Limit

20 kW

16.1

20 kW

21.3

20 kW

13.8

100 kW

18.9

100 kW

21.8*
27.4**

20 kW

26.9*
33.1**

Oahu

18.9*

500 kW

25.4*

500 kW

Maui &
Hawaii23.8**

250 kW

27.5**

500 kW

Lanai &
Molokai3

Size Limit

100 kW

In-line Hydro

100 kW

Oahu

19.7*

5 MW

31.5*

5 MW

12

5 MW

--

--

Maui &
Hawaii23.6**

2.72 MW

33.5**

2.72 MW

--

--

--

--

*

With tax credit of 35 percent **With tax rebate of 24.5 percent
FIT aggregate limits: Oahu 60 MW; Hawaii Island 10 MW; Maui, Lanai, Molokai (combined) 10 MW
In December 2014, the PUC accepted HECO and the Independent Observer's joint plan to administer the FIT queues. Future revisions ormodifications to the FIT Program will be addressed in Docket No. 2014-0192 or 2014-0183.
39 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Renewable Energy Resources
The State of Hawaii offers numerous resources and tools to support appropriate and informed renewable energy
development in Hawaii:

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS DIRECTORY
The Renewable Energy Projects Directory is an interactive map of existing and proposed renewable energy projects
statewide, showcasing the variety of renewable energy resources that are moving the state closer to reaching energy
independence. The Directory also serves to inform all stakeholders of planned and existing renewable energy
projects of interest. Visit the Hawaii Renewable Energy Projects Directory

PERMITTING
Permitting any large project in Hawaii, including a utility-scale renewable energy project, requires a thoroughunderstanding of local processes, issues, and stakeholders. The development of numerous large-scale renewableenergy projects over the last ten years has provided community members, regulators, and developers a more
informed opinion of future projects in terms of potential benefits and impacts. With some of the more desirable
locations now developed or otherwise not available, appropriate project siting and regulation will remain a challenge
moving forward.
Some strategies to support the siting and permitting of renewable energy projects in Hawaii:• Know the requirements and processes - retain professionals with experience in Hawaii.
• Review past studies/permits (EIS) for the site - where available, lessons learned from earlier efforts can provide a
wealth of information.
• Meaningful community participation - engage public early in the project siting and design process.
• Identify the appropriate community contacts - seek out community members with knowledge of the area.
• Engage all stakeholders - identify and address all stakeholders and issues early in the process.
• Site projects appropriately - seek compatible areas to minimize environmental impacts.
• Be diligent - go slow in the beginning to go fast in the end.
• One submittal/one review - present agencies with well-planned projects, complete applications.
• Electronic permit processing - saves time, reduces back and forth, transparency, tracking.
The tools described below provide information on these topics, as well as guidance to assist appropriate project siting
and due diligence. These tools also seek to lower project “soft” costs by reducing the resources needed to undergo
the permitting processes without removing any of the environmental or community safeguard processes in place.
Many local federal, state, and county agencies contributed to the development to these tools.

DEVELOPER & INVESTOR CENTER, SELF-HELP SUITE (HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE)
The Hawaii State Energy Office’s interactive Developer & Investor Center and Self-Help Suite provide comprehensive
information on the siting, permitting, and development of renewable energy facilities in Hawaii. HSEO will regularly
update these resources as requirements, policies, and procedures change. The Center focuses on permitting
assistance through its Project Permitting Assistance and Resources website, which also provides a permit Guidebook
and individual briefs on numerous county, state, and federal permit processes.
Visit the Developer & Investor CenterIn addition to these resources, the Center provides lists of environmental consultants familiar with planning andpermitting in Hawaii. While not exhaustive, this list identifies numerous firms with experience permitting and siting
renewable energy projects in Hawaii.
Visit Project Permitting Assistance and Resources

40 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Renewable Energy Resources
RENEWABLE ENERGY PERMITTING WIZARD (HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE)
The Permitting Wizard was developed to help those proposing renewable energy projects understand the county,
state, and federal permits that may be required for their individual projects. After answering a series of questions
about their proposed project, a Permit Plan for the project is produced, identifying the permits required,prerequisites approvals and recommended sequencing, and estimated time of issuance. Software upgrades andcontent updates to the Wizard were last completed by the Hawaii State Energy Office in 2015, however, the Energy
Office seeks to update the Wizard content periodically.
Visit the Renewable Energy Permitting Wizard

RENEWABLE ENERGIS MAPPING TOOL (HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE, OFFICE OF PLANNING)
Renewable EnerGIS provides renewable energy resource and site information for specific Hawaii locations selected by
the user. EnerGIS helps users understand the renewable energy potential and permitting requirements for specificselected sites.
Visit the Renewable EnerGIS Map

HAWAII CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY)In September 2015 the U.S. Department of Energy published the Hawaii Clean Energy Final Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement which assesses common impacts and best management practices associated with
31 clean energy technologies.
Visit Hawaii Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

ELECTRONIC PERMITTING
Electronic permitting is another effective method of streamlining the permit review process without removing any ofthe environmental or community safeguards in place. Some examples of state and county agencies in Hawaii utilizing
electronic permitting include:

ePERMITTING PORTAL (HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH)
The Hawaii Department of Health’s Environmental Health Administration e-Permitting Portal provides access toenvironmental permit applications. e-Permitting allows for efficient and accurate electronic application compilationand submission, tracking, processing, management, and fee payment.
Visit the e-Permitting Portal

ONLINE BUILDING PERMITS (CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU)
Oahu’s Department of Planning and Permitting website provides for the electronic submission and processing ofbuilding permits required for residential solar heating, photovoltaic, and electric vehicle charger installations in theCity and County of Honolulu. Building Permit status can also be monitored online.
Visit Department of Planning and Permitting

41 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Renewable Energy Resources
ELECTRONIC PLAN REVIEW (EPLAN) AND BUILDING PERMIT STATUS (COUNTY OF KAUAI)
Kauai's Department of Public Works, Building Division, offers online tools to submit building permits electronically(Electronic Plan Review or "ePlan") and get information on Building Permit status, details, and other relevant
information.
Visit Electronic Plan Review

ONLINE PERMITTING (DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES)In late 2016 the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) launched new electronic permit and asset
management tools for DLNR’s Engineering Division and Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Native Invertebrates
Program. These resources are designed to support the electronic submission, processing, and issuance of select DLNR
permits.
Visit Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Visit Engineering Division

42 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Clean Transportation
Hawaii’s transformation to a clean energy economy requires the integration of transportation. In tacklingtransportation HSEO has a near-term focus in ground transportation and maintains a long-term perspective that
includes alternatives fuels and efficiency in aviation and marine transportation. To reduce Hawaii’s consumption of
petroleum within the ground transportation sector, HSEO is looking to implement tactics that will make atransformational investment in Hawaii’s clean energy economy with a specific emphasis on projects that facilitate theadoption and deployment of grid-connected, battery-electric zero emission vehicles (EV), and will make an impact on
the transition toward the ultimate elimination of imported fuel in ground transportation.
Performance metrics are an important means of quantitatively evaluating progress and specifically, the advancementof clean transportation strategies and policies. As HSEO continues to expand its assessment of clean transportation in
Hawaii, it will incorporate additional clean transportation facts and figures.
Future plans call for developing a statewide clean energy ground transportation plan.

HAWAII’S CLEAN TRANSPORTATION LAWS AND PROCLIMATIONS
Hawaii’s clean transportation policies are now at the forefront of the legislative agenda in Hawaii.
• HRS §226-18(a)(2) - Hawaii State Planning Act; Objectives and policies for facility systems – energy. Increased
energy security and self-sufficiency through the reduction and ultimate elimination of Hawaii's dependence on
imported fuels for electrical generation and ground transportation;• HRS §103D-412 - Hawaii's vehicle procurement guidelines require State and County agencies to follow ahierarchy when leasing or purchasing light-duty motor vehicles that are not covered by federal procurement
rules: (1) EV or PHEV; (2) Hydrogen FCEV; (3) Alternative fuel vehicle; (4) Hybrid; (5) Fuel economy leader• HRS §225P-3 - Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission; general functions, duties, andpowers aligning Hawaii with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• City and County of Honolulu, Maui County, Hawaii County, and Kauai County committed to eliminate fossil fuels
use within ground transportation by 2045 – mirroring the 100 percent RPS time frame for the electric sector.
Notably the City and County of Honolulu, Maui County and Kauai County pledged to lead the way by transitioning
all of their fleet vehicles to 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED
Fig. 24: The graph below reflects Hawaii’s average annual vehicle miles traveled per registered vehicle.10

43 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Clean Transportation
Table 22: Hawaii 2016 Travel to Work
U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey11
Description

Percentage

Hawaii National Rank

Mean travel time to work of workers 16 years and over
who did not work at home (minutes)

27.7

11

Percent of workers 16 years and over who traveled towork by car, truck, or van – drove alone

66.9

49

Percent of workers 16 years and over who traveled towork by car, truck, or van – carpooled

13.6

1

Percent of workers 16 years and over who traveled towork by public transportation

6.7

7

Table 23: County Public Transit RidershipCounty2017 County Transit
Passenger Ridership
City & County
66,362,079
HonoluluMaui1,879,072

2018 County Transit
Passenger Ridership
65,282,210
1,998,710

Kauai

710,129

760,415

Hawaii

766,472

742,250

BICYCLING
Bicycling significantly reduces transportation emissions while also reducing traffic, in addition to being a healthy, fun,and low-impact form of exercise. Alternative forms of transportation such as bicycling is a means by which todecarbonize the transportation sector by reducing demand for energy as opposed to shifting transportation energy
demand to a renewable fuel source such as biofuels or renewable electricity.
Bicycle Transit System
Biki is Honolulu’s bicycle transit system launched by Bikeshare Hawaii in June 2017. It is currently the sixth most-usedbikeshare program in the nation. Bikeshare Hawaii benefits Hawaii residents and visitors by providing a low-cost,convenient, zero emissions transportation option that is healthy for users, the community, and the environment.12
Biki currently operates in Honolulu with self-service “Biki Stops” located from Chinatown to Diamond Head.
Table 24: Biki by the numbers.
2017

2018

Number of Biki bikes

1,000

1,300

Number of self-service Biki stops

100

130

Number of Biki members

6,000

13,800

Average rides per month

66,000100,000

44 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Clean Transportation
Table 25: Bicycle Lanes and Laws
CountyMiles of Bikeways13

Bike Laws(including protected bike lanes, bike paths, bike routes,
and shared use paths)

Oahu

205 Miles
In May 2019, the City & County of Honolulu released theirdraft updated Oahu Bike Plan, noting implementation of
the entire proposed bikeway network would add 577 milesof new. bikeways. View the Oahu Bike Plan.

The Hawaii Bicycling League offers acomprehensive list of City & County of
Honolulu bicycle regulations. Visit the
Hawaii Bicycling League site.

Maui60.4 miles

The Maui Bicycling League offers acomprehensive list of Maui county bicycle
regulations. Visit the Maui Bicycling League
site.

Hawaii27.4 miles

The University of Hawaii Hilo offers acomprehensive list of Hawaii County bicycle
regulations. Visit the UH Hilo Bike Share
site.

Kauai

31.7 miles

ELECTRIC VEHICLESAn EV uses electricity in place of gasoline, reducing the need for petroleum-based fuel as the electric sector continues
the path towards 100 percent RPS. Since EVs can use electricity produced from renewable resources available in
Hawaii (i.e. sun, wind, hydropower, ocean energy, geothermal energy), the transition from gasoline fueled vehicles to
EVs supports Hawaii’s energy independence goals.
Based on statewide averages, the amount of fossil fuel used to power an electric vehicle in Hawaii is 34-40 percent
less than the fossil fuel required to power a similar gasoline-fueled vehicle.14 This is expected to improve as
renewable energy increases in Hawaii.
Table 26: Registered EVs15 and Public Charging Stations16 in Hawaii
CountyElectric
Level 217
Level 318
VehiclesCharging Station
Charging Station
Ports
Ports
Oahu
7,454
297
12
Maui
1,016
80
27
Molokai
35
1
Lanai
41
2
Hawaii
508
36
7
Kauai
306
32
1
Total statewide
9,360
447
48

Total Ports
309
107
1
2
43
33
495

45 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Clean Transportation
Fig. 25: EV Trends in Hawaii 2014-2018

Table 27: Fuel Cost Comparison
Vehicle2019
Nissan Versa
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Miles Per34 mpg combined
Gallon (MPG)
367 miles total
range
Fuel Costs$3.57/gallon

Fuel Cost per
Year22$991.732019
Honda Civic
Gasoline
33 mpg combined
409 miles total range

2019
Nissan LEAF19
Electricity
108 combined MPG
226 miles total range$3.57/gallon

Residential Electricity Rate: $0.31/kWh20
Schedule TOU-RI for mid-day EV
Charging: $0.14/kWh21$1,021.78

Residential Electricity Rate: $803.24
Schedule TOU-RI for mid-day EV
Charging: $362.75

Fuel cost comparisons show approximate savings between internal combustion engine and electric vehicles. The
example above shows that fuel costs are lower for the Nissan LEAF than for a comparable gasoline fueled vehicle.

46 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Clean Transportation
HAWAII’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE LAWS AND INCENTIVES• Free parking is provided in state and county government lots, facilities, and at parking meters.
• Vehicles with EV license plates are exempt from High Occupancy Vehicle lane restrictions.
• Parking lots with at least 100 public parking spaces are required to have at least one parking space, equippedwith an EV charging system, reserved exclusively for EVs.
• Non-EVs parked in a space designated and marked as reserved for EVs shall be fined not less than $50 nor morethan $100.
• Hawaiian Electric Co. offer EV time-of-use rates designed to incentivize customers, through lower rates, to charge
their EVs during off-peak times of day.
• Hawaiian Electric Co. offer time-of-use rates for electric bus charging for a total of up to 20 bus fleet customers
on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii islands with lower prices that encourage charging during midday.
• Multi-family residential dwellings or townhomes cannot prohibit the placement or use of EV charging systems
altogether.
• EV Charging Rebate Program for installation of eligible new or upgraded multi-user electric vehicle charging
systems, (HB 1585, 2019).
• Energy performance contract includes the provision of EV charging infrastructure for a portion of avoided vehicle
maintenance or fuel costs pursuant to a vehicle fleet energy efficiency program, (HB 401, 2019).
• EVs and alternative fuel vehicles are subject to an annual vehicle registration surcharge fee of $50, which will becollected beginning with the first registration renewal and will be deposited into the State Highway Fund.
Effective 1/1/2020 (SB409, 2019).
For more information about state and federal laws, regulations and incentives:
Visit HSEO’s site on State and Federal Laws & Incentives
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center

EV QUICK FACTS
Table 28:
Hawaii ranks sixth in the nation behind California,
Washington, Oregon, Colorado and District of Columbia of total EV sales.

1.75 percent of total state sales23

As an eligible beneficiary, the State of Hawaii has
been allocated $8.125 million from the Volkswagen
Environmental Mitigation Trust. The Hawaii State
Energy Office will administer Trust funds and execute eligible environmental mitigation projects to
reduce vehicle emissions in Hawaii.

Hawaii and Washington were the only states to receive a top-of-the-class A+ per the Volkswagen Settlement State Scorecard for their plans to use all of their
Trust money to fund electric bus purchases, both fortransit agencies and school districts, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.24

Cost for a government or commercial property owner to install a Level 2 charging station.

Approximately $4,000-$8,000 per station.
A relatively simple project in Hawaii can range from$4,000 to $25,000 to $100,000; however, prices varyconsiderably.25

47 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019

Endnotes
1

U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Electricity Data Browser,” https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends/
3
Volumes. Source: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data System
4
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2/
5
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2
6
1 barrel = 42 U.S. gallons
7
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2/
8Electricity: http://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/#/series/31 (last accessed 5/17/17); natural gas: http://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/#/series/28 (last accessed 5/17/17)
9
DBEDT’s Monthly Energy Trends, http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/data_reports/energy-trends-2/
10
http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/databook/2016-individual/_18/
11
http://census.hawaii.gov/acs/acs-2016/; http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/census/acs/ACS2016/ACS2016_1_Year/state_rank/2016_acs_1yr_sumranktab_final.pdf
12
https://gobiki.org/about-us/
13
https://www.honolulu.gov/bicycle
http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2013/02/Bike-Plan-appendixc.pdf
https://www.kauai.gov/Portals/0/PW_Bldg/BikePathProject/Articles/Bike_path_overview.pdf?ver=2015-04-20-160259-343
14Level 3, also known as “fast charging,” can provide an 80% charge for some vehicles in less than 30 minutes, depending on
vehicle and charger specifications. Not all vehicles can use fast charging
15
EV figures from Hawaii State Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Registration data accessed April 11, 201916
EV Stations Hawaii app http://energy.hawaii.gov/testbeds-initiatives/ev-ready-program/ev-stations-hawaii-mobile-app
17
Level 2 charging is at 240 volts. All electric vehicles are equipped for this type of charging. A “charger” can have one or more
ports. The number of “ports” determines how many vehicles each charger can service at a time. One “port” can service one
vehicle18
Level 3, also known as “fast charging,” can provide an 80% charge for some vehicles in less than 30 minutes, depending on
vehicle and charger specifications. Not all vehicles can use fast charging
19
Fuel cost comparisons show approximate savings between internal combustion engine and electric vehicles. The example
shows that fuel costs are lower for the Nissan Leaf than for a comparable gasoline fueled vehicle. 2019 Nissan Leaf: 62 kWhbattery; 31 kWh/100 miles
20
Electricity rate based on Schedule R - Residential Service rate for April 2019 was 36.01 cents. Source: Monthly Energy Trend,
READ, DBEDT http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/data_reports/energy-trends/Energy_Trend.pdf
21
Electricity rate based on Schedule TOU-RI Mid-Peak or Midday Rate (Residential Rate - $0.12). Source: HECO Website: https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/documents/billing_and_payment/rates/hawaiian_electric_rates/heco_rates_tou_ri.pdf
22
Based on fuel prices and 9,415 annual miles per year from Hawaii State Data Book. http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/
databook. Figure does not include operations and maintenance costs, which are generally shown to be lower for electric vehicle
ownership
23
https://autoalliance.org/economy/consumer-choice/electric-vehicles/HI/
Additional information is also available at: https://autoalliance.org/energy-environment/advanced-technology-vehicle-salesdashboard/24
https://uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/USP%20VW%20Scorecard%20May19.pdf
25
Hawaii State Energy Office, Report to the Maui Electric Vehicle Alliance Driving EVs Forward: A Case Study of the Market
Introduction and Deployment of the EV in Hawaii (PDF) http://energy.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/
ReportMauiElectricVehicleAlliance_12_20_12.pdf
248 | DBEDT Hawaii State Energy Office |Hawaii Energy Facts & Figures, July 2019