Hawaiian group seeks more green power projects to fund
HONOLULU, Hawaii, US, April 6, 2005 (Refocus Weekly)
The electric utility in Hawaii is seeking investment opportunities in renewable energy.
The renewable energy subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric, Renewable Hawaii, has
issued a second round of requests for proposals for renewable energy projects on
Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and the Big Island. Responses are due by June
30.
“Renewable Hawaii is seeking opportunities for equity investment in
commercially viable and cost-effective projects to produce electricity for
Hawaii from renewable resources, such as sun, wind, hydro, biomass, ocean or
geothermal energy,” the company says. On Maui, 33 acres at Maui Electric's
Waena generating station is available for commercial alternative energy use.
"We are hopeful that these projects will result in new renewable energy
developments in Hawaii and that this second round of requests for project
proposals will encourage others seeking financing assistance to respond,” says
Karl Stahlkopf of Renewable Hawaii. Projects which supply firm power will
receive higher priority than non-dispatchable sources, and another criterion
will be to “confirm that the renewable technology is commercially viable and
can be positively integrated into the islands' electric systems.”
The key objective of the request is to attain a marked increase in the amount of
green power in Hawaii, and projects must have capacity of at least 1 MW and be
in commercial operation by the end of 2010. Renewable Hawaii wants to work with
developers as a minority financial partner, to encourage more grid-connected
renewable energy projects.
The estimated requirements for renewable energy are 246,000 MWh by 2010, 928,000
MWh by 2015 and 1,729,000 MWh by 2020.
Over the past two years, Renewable Hawaii has asked for proposals for Oahu,
Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island. In response to those solicitations, it
received numerous proposals and is in discussion with six developers of wind,
solid waste and landfill gas resources.
Renewable Hawaii was formed in 2002 as a non-regulated subsidiary of HECO, with
a mission to invest in “commercially and economically viable projects that
support reduction of Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels and the timely
attainment of the State of Hawaii Renewable Portfolio Standards law.” It is
working with landowners and developers on the islands to develop other renewable
energy projects.
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