Powering Hawaii - A Sustainable Solution
by Mike Moore
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” Though penned 150 years ago by Charles Dickens in his classic novel A Tale of Two Cities, these words ring eerily relevant today. We live in an age of technological innovation unprecedented in human history. Modern conveniences such as computers, communication devices and transportation options have literally delivered the world to us. At the same time, we face tremendous challenges.
Hawai‘i in particular is extremely vulnerable to fluctuating oil prices and rising energy costs. Paradise comes at a steep price, as we pay the highest fuel and utility rates in the country. For us to drill or not to drill may not be the question. To determine with absolute certainty if we have reached peak oil production in meeting global energy demand, perhaps only time will tell. Regardless of your perspective, we all realize that natural resources such as oil, gas and coal will eventually be depleted. It’s just a matter of time, as the world’s population continues to escalate--projected to reach 9 billion by 2042--and countries such as China and India experience tremendous growth. Our dependence on foreign crude oil sources will not diminish any time soon.
Given the gravity of the situation, it would be prudent to consider implementing more sustainable energy solutions that will be viable for years to come. Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We are all familiar with the admonition to “do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” We have that opportunity.
Hawai‘i is blessed with the unique ability to achieve virtual energy independence from fossil fuels by utilizing available renewable energy solutions including wind, solar, ocean and geothermal. Perhaps no other place on earth can claim this distinction. These energy sources are renewable because they are replenishable. The sun, wind and ocean will be available indefinitely, whereas transported natural resources such as oil, coal and gas are non-renewable commodities and will be priced in the open marketplace accordingly. We must evaluate our unbridled reliance on such sources. Technological breakthroughs have allowed us to efficiently deliver renewable energy to the consumer without compromising modern conveniences and amenities. Of course, it is always advisable to reduce, reuse and recycle, thus conserving precious resources.
The ancient Hawaiians learned to live off the land, so perhaps it’s time for us to consider a more back-to-basics approach in solving our energy needs. It’s ironic that the very environment that we are so in danger of destroying offers unique solutions to meeting our growing energy demands in a more sustainable way. Let’s consider a brief overview of our unique natural resources and technological advances currently available for this island paradise.
THE SUN
Hawai‘i enjoys an abundance of year-round tropical sunshine; and we know energy from the sun, in the form of sunlight, supports life on earth. We have learned to take advantage of this tremendous resource for heating domestic water and providing electricity to our homes and businesses. Solar hot water is achieved by utilizing flat plate collectors and a storage tank. This is an extremely cost effective and efficient approach for meeting the domestic hot water needs for most residences in Hawai‘i. Give the viability and success of this low-tech solution, it will be a mandated requirement for all new home construction in Hawai‘i by January 2010. Lower electric bills mean less dependence on oil.
Solar electric or photovoltaic systems are gaining in popularity, especially in areas with great sun exposure and high energy costs like Hawai‘i. It’s the world’s fastest growing energy technology, doubling each year to over $17 billion in 2007. As flat panel collectors convert sunlight into electricity, the energy produced can either be stored in batteries or tied into the local utility grid. Systems can be designed to supplement energy needs or provide complete energy independence. As tax credits have increased, this is becoming an extremely feasible option, especially for new home construction, where the system costs can be amortized over the life of the loan. This technology is both clean and green.
THE WIND
Hawai‘i is well known for its prevailing tradewinds and the natural cooling effects of proper home planning and design. Energy needs can be supplemented by harnessing wind power and converting it into electricity by utilizing wind turbines. Wind power is clean, renewable, emissions-free, cost-competitive and abundant in many areas of the Hawaiian Islands. This is a viable renewable option for individual use or combined in a larger wind farm application. Although the aesthetics of towering wind turbines can be a legitimate concern, they consume no fuel; so wind truly is a clean and green solution. Examples of these installations are found in numerous locations across the islands.
THE OCEAN
The Hawaiian Islands are surrounded by a great natural resource in the form of deep seawater. The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion project (OTEC) utilized the temperature differential of cold, deep seawater off the Kona Coast with the warm surface water to vaporize ammonia and drive a turbine, thereby creating a pollution-free cycle of electricity. Innovations in this area of research continue to this day; and the cold water is even being utilized for solving the air conditioning demands for many commercial buildings in downtown Honolulu. Hawai‘i has also been identified as a prime location for wave and tidal generated energy; and projects are currently in development on Maui. Renewable energy sources will someday be used to separate the most abundant element in the universe--hydrogen--as advancements in fuel cell technologies could conceivably solve our transportation needs. The fuel cell produces electricity electrochemically by combining hydrogen and oxygen without combustion. Hydrogen fuel is both clean and green.
THE EARTH
The land or ‘aina as it is referred to in the Hawaiian language has always had a special connection for the people. Besides its ability to sustain life with a wonderful variety of fruits and vegetables, there is another sustainable energy resource that resides right below the earth’s surface. Geothermal power is energy generated by tapping deep into the underground cauldron of volcanic heat, converting steam into electricity. Hawai‘i, as one of the world’s most active volcanic regions, has already implemented this technology with a successful geothermal plant on the Big Island. Hawai‘i Island is located above a volcanic “hot spot” in the earth’s mantle and is a great resource for electric generation and the direct use of heat. Hot magma below the earth’s surface heats trapped rainwater reserves, referred to as a geothermal reservoir. As geothermal waters reach the surface, steam from this reservoir is used to drive turbines, which in turn drive a generator, producing electricity--an innovative, clean and green technological solution. It is a “firm” resource because it is always available.
In 1881, King David Kalākaua took a journey to New York City to visit with Thomas Edison and discuss the possibility of extracting energy from Hawai‘i’s volcanoes using underwater cables to carry power between the islands. Interesting enough, Hawai‘i recently made a commitment to be 70% energy independent by the year 2030. A part of this proposal includes installing undersea power cables to transmit wind-generated energy between the islands. Whether or not this proves to be economically feasible, clearly it’s a step in the right direction since we currently import 90% of our energy. Let’s make sure this vision continues to move forward as we each do our part to achieve self-sufficiency and practice water and energy conservation measures. We need a more predictable, long-term solution unshackled from the inevitable price fluctuations of oil. There is too much at stake to risk our very livelihood to global market conditions.
President Theodore Roosevelt said it best over 100 years ago: “To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed.”
We have the technology and we have the renewable resources. If we can harness the collective will and necessary resolve to implement appropriate measures to preserve our quality of life, to protect and enhance the fragile beauty of this spectacular island paradise, perhaps future generations will remember us for our wisdom rather than for our foolishness.
Hawai‘i will always be an international destination of choice, and so all eyes are watching. Let’s give them something to talk about!
