How does hawaii generate electricity

Such fuels need to be imported. Petroleum is relatively easy to transport and store; it can be easily refined to create fuel for a full spectrum of air, water and ground transportation, electricity and other uses. Diversifying Hawaii's mix of energy sources by using more locally produced renewable energy at lower and more stable pricing to produce electricity and for transportation when possible is the best way to help Hawaii use less oil.

Only about one third of Hawaii's imported oil is used to make electricity. About one third goes for jet fuel and about one third goes for gasoline and diesel for ground and water transportation.

Although using renewable energy will reduce Hawaii's use of oil to produce electricity, it won't eliminate the need to import crude oil or refined product to Hawaii as long as fuel is needed for ground and air transportation. This is one reason Hawaiian Electric advocates electric vehicles. In observance of Veterans Day, our offices will be closed on Thursday, November 11, View holiday schedule ».

Hawaii doesn't have any coal or oil of its own, but it does have significant natural resources, including some that aren't available elsewhere. It's one of only seven states with a utility-grade geothermal plant, which is located on Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island. It supplied almost one-quarter of the island's electricity, but it had to be shut down in when the volcano erupted and is expected to re-open in Studies have also shown that wave energy in the ocean that surrounds the islands has the potential to generate a significant amount of energy.

In addition, thermal currents in the ocean water can also be harnessed for electricity. Deep, cooler currents can also be drawn to the surface to provide cooling for nearby communities, thus reducing the need for air conditioning.

Hawaii's largest solar farm went online in , generating 28 megawatts and effectively doubling the amount of solar electricity available on the islands. In addition, about half the households in the state , households , had solar panels installed in , and state building codes require all new homes to have solar water heaters. Solar panels convert visible light energy from the sun, as well as ultraviolet light, into electricity by virtue of the photovoltaic effect. In addition, Hawaii has over wind turbines that convert its abundant onshore and offshore wind resources into megawatts of electricity.

In rural parts of the state, biomass such as sugarcane is converted into electricity. Owing to its relatively small waterways, Hawaii doesn't generate much hydroelectric power, but a new hydroelectric plant came online on Kauai in to supply 6 megawatts annually.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is planning to integrate hydroelectric and solar generating stations to supply supplemental nighttime peak energy demands in the near future. David Ige D has until May 15 to veto or sign the bill. If he fails to act by then, the bill will automatically become law. Hawaii would be the first state in the nation to have an RPS at percent.

Its previous RPS called for 40 percent renewables by the end of Hawaii already has the greatest solar penetration in the nation.