The Potential of Renewable Energy to Reduce the Dependence of the State of Hawaii on Oil

Deriving nearly 90% of its primary energy resources from oil, the State of Hawaii is more dependent on oil than any other U.S. state. The price of electricity in Hawaii is also more than twice the U.S. average. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directed assessment of the economic implications of Hawaii’s oil dependence and the feasibility of using renewable energy to help meet the state’s electrical generation and transportation fuel use. This paper is based on the assessments and report prepared in response to that directive. Current total installed electrical capacity for the State of Hawaii is 2,414 MWe, 83% of which is fuel-oil generated, but already including about 170 MWe of renewable capacity. The assessments identified about 2,133 MWe (plus another estimated 2,000 MWe of rooftop PV systems) of potential new renewable energy capacity. Most notable, in addition to the rooftop solar potential, is 750 MWe and 140 MWe of geothermal potential on Hawaii and Maui, respectively, 840 MWe ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: HICSS
• Authors: Doug Arent, John Barnett, Gail Mosey, Alison Wise
• Keywords: Biometrics, Hawaii, Hawaii’s Oil Dependence, HICSS 2009, Potential 285 Mwe, System Sciences