Why is Hawaiian Electric sponsoring this website and running TV, radio and print ads about renewable energy and energy conservation?
Hawaiian Electric often talks about a ‘mixed plate’ of resources to meet Hawaii’s energy future. What does that refer to?
Please explain “firm” power versus “as available” power.
What about nuclear power?
What is Hawaiian Electric's position on global warming?
What is the role of the undersea cable being planned by the State?
If Hawaiian Electric is promoting renewable energy, why did you just build a new power plant on Oahu?
What is the Smart Grid?
What is Hawaiian Electric doing to help conserve energy?
What can I do to help conserve energy?
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Hawaiian Electric often talks about a ‘mixed plate’ of resources to meet Hawaii’s energy future. What does that refer to?
To power our future, increase our energy security, improve our economy and protect our environment, we need a diversity of resources. It is not “either-or” but “all of these.” It’s like a mixed plate lunch that includes a variety of choices. Just one will not do. On our “mixed plate” includes:
• Renewable Energy Resources – Sun, wind, flowing water or biomass (including trash) are environmentally friendly, inexhaustible energy sources. But, there are challenges: Some renewable sources provide “as available,” not “firm” power that is consistently ready and good quality. The technology to harness these renewable resources can cost more for customers. Renewable resources that are not available on demand still need some other power generation as a back up. And while many people support renewable energy in theory, there is a “not in my back yard” sentiment.
• Energy Conservation and Efficiency – Also called “demand-side management,” conservation and efficiency are effective in the short term to decrease dependence on imported oil, save money and protect the environment. This means using energy wisely (without sacrificing comfort or safety) and using less power to get the same amount of energy. For example, compact fluorescent lights, also known as energy saving bulbs, give the same amount of light using less energy. Conservation and efficiency save money on our electric bills, especially in the long run.
• Traditional Generation – Forecasted growth of electricity usage required a new power plant on Oahu by 2009 to provide firm, dependable power during daily demand peaks. The good news is that the new Campbell Industrial Park generation station, now in operation, has been designed to use clean “green” fuel: that is, biodiesel. Hawaiian Electric selected and the Public Utilities Commission approved a subsidiary of Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group to provide biodiesel from used cooking oils and pre- and post-consumer animal waste.
• Distributed Generation – Distributed generation refers to residential or commercial customers installing electricity generation equipment on site to meet their own needs and in some cases exporting excess electricity to the grid. Hawaiian Electric companies support distributed generation and encourages it through programs such as Net Energy Metering. This most often means solar electricity produced by photovoltaic panels, but can include wind, water and biomass energy produced at the customers’ sites and even for large customers “combined heat and power,” or co-generation, which is very efficient. When a lot of distributed generation is installed on a specific distribution circuit (which brings electricity from high power transformers into homes and buildings), it can cause problems in reliability and safety. Hawaiian Electric continues to work with renewable energy developers, such as solar power companies, to resolve these problems across the system and on a circuit-by-circuit basis.
At Hawaiian Electric, we are also exploring new technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, ocean waves and the difference between ocean temperatures at great depth and the surface, as possible sources of power generation. The future is promising but it may be some time before these new technologies are commercially available at reasonable cost.
While we continue to explore these technologies, Hawaiian Electric believes we can not wait in the hope that one or more of them become a reality. We must act now with technologies and systems that are available, and that we understand and know can work.
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Please explain “firm” power versus “as available” power.
“Firm” power is available reliably on demand, whenever needed. In the utility business it is called “dispatchable” because system operators can dispatch or send firm power quickly and reliably as it is needed. “As available” power is not accessible all the time. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are good examples of “as available” power since they depend on natural forces that can not be controlled and sometimes can not be predicted. Our goal is the maximum renewable energy possible, but “as available” sources will require storage systems (in effect, huge batteries) and firm generation back-up to be used reliably.
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What about nuclear power in Hawaii?
A key reason we are not pursuing nuclear power in Hawaii is found in the Hawaii State Constitution, Article XI, Section 8, which says that "No nuclear fission power plant shall be constructed or radioactive material disposed of in the State without the prior approval by a two-thirds vote in each house of the legislature."
Even though nuclear reactors have had a good safety record, understandable public concern about accidents on a small, remote island – as well as environmental and other concerns – rule out such a vote for the foreseeable future, certainly until a new generation of reactors is built and proved safe on the mainland.
While nuclear power continues to provide a substantial percentage of electric power on the mainland (and in countries such as France and Japan), no nuclear power plant has been built in the United States for decades, since well before Three Mile Island. Investors have shied away because of cost over runs in older plants and the risk that a nuclear plant will be rejected after millions of dollars have been spent.
As concerns about global warming grow, some environmentalists are reconsidering nuclear energy which does not create greenhouse gasses as do fossil fuel plants. The problem of disposing waste that remains radioactive for generations remains one of several challenges.
Planning for nuclear generator also requires developers to create an evacuation plan for 25 to 30 miles around the proposed facility, in case of any danger to people. However, evacuation on an island is not possible and there are no locations on most Hawaiian islands that are remote enough to allow a 30-mile circular safety zone around a possible nuclear plant.
Also, to be cost effective, most existing and presently planned nuclear plants are designed to be large. But on a small island, we can not use very large generators. We need to keep an amount of generation in reserve equal to at least the largest generation in operation to assure reliability. (On the mainland, these reserves come from inter-connection with other utilities, something we can not do here.) Until nuclear reactor technology progresses and much smaller generators are developed and perfected, nuclear power for Hawaii does not seem to be a viable option.
For these reasons, a nuclear power plant option is quite remote for Hawaii and while Hawaiian Electric monitors technical developments in nuclear power, active planning for such an unlikely possibility is not cost-effective.
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What is Hawaiian Electric's position on global warming?
Hawaiian Electric Company shares the very serious concerns of many regarding the potential effects of global warming and human contributions to this phenomenon, including the burning of fossil fuels for electricity production, transportation, manufacturing, agricultural activities and deforestation.
To effectively address global warming, actions addressing all contributing sources must be taken with priority given to those which provide the greatest benefit for the costs involved. To be successful, the response to global warming requires commitment by private sector businesses, all levels of government, and every member of the public.
At Hawaiian Electric, we remain committed to taking direct action to mitigate the contributions to global warming from electricity production. Such action has and will continue to include promoting aggressive energy conservation and transitioning to clean, efficient and eco-effective energy production in all markets that we serve.
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What is the role of the undersea cable being planned by the State?
Hawaiian Electric is working with the State of Hawaii on the undersea cable as part of the Interisland Wind project, which proposes to send up to 400 megawatts of renewable wind energy from Moloka'i and Lana'i via undersea cable to O'ahu. The project would play an important part in helping to achieve the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative goal of 70 percent clean energy for electricity and ground transportation by 2030. The State has hired a consultant to prepare an environmental study on the cable.
To learn more, visit www.interislandwind.com
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If Hawaiian Electric is promoting renewable energy, why did you just build a new power plant on Oahu?
We need a diversity of resources to meet Oahu’s energy needs – it’s a case of “all of these,” not “either-or.” We have to simultaneously get results from aggressive energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy and other technologies. There is no one solution. It takes all of these actions to keep the lights on.
Given that demand for power at peak times is growing and existing generators are getting older, some additional firm generating capacity via power plants is needed to provide 24-hour reliable electric service to Oahu customers. Even then, the new plant is different than anything we have previously built. It will use renewable biodiesel as fuel, so while it may look like any other power plant, it is in fact a renewable electricity plant.
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What is the Smart Grid?
One important element in Hawaii’s clean energy future is the development of a “smart grid” with “advanced metering infrastructure.” A smart grid will provide residential and business customers and the utility with enhanced timely information on electricity use with a greater focus on energy management.
A key smart grid capability currently being developed is “advanced metering infrastructure.” This involves installing new high-tech meters in customer homes and businesses along with wireless communication and new software at the utility.
For more information on Smart Grid, click here.
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ENERGY CONSERVATION PRACTICES
What is Hawaiian Electric doing to help conserve energy?
HECO’s “Live Energy Lite” program uses events, public presentations, publications and tips provided via the www.heco.com website to encourage people to use energy wisely and explain how to do so.
What can I do to help conserve energy?
Click on “You Can Make a Difference” and see what you can do!
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•Our Advertising Campaign
•Hawaii's Energy Future
•Nuclear Power
•Global Warming
•Undersea Cable
•New Power Plant on Oahu
•Smart Grid
•Energy Conservation
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