Reliable Renewable Energy Sources in Molokai, Hawaii: A Comprehensive Guide

Molokai Clean Energy Resilience Action Plan is not only focused on renewable energy but also on emergency planning. To take advantage of Molokai's natural resources, several smaller-scale wind turbines can be considered as an option to increase the flow of reliable renewable energy, if the community so wishes. Solar energy is often used to pump water “upstream” from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, making these facilities 100% renewable. Hydrogen production can be programmed to make use of excess renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted (reduced).

This can also be used to produce electricity and meet peak electricity demands. Maui's final initiative to achieve fully renewable operation is supported by the SETO, which has doubled its commitment to the stability of renewable systems by awarding a project led by NREL, called SAPPHIRE, to develop controls for hybrid renewable power plants. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is developing and validating multi-scale tools that will bring Maui and other systems closer to a 100% clean and stable energy future. In partnership with the Hawaii National Marine Renewable Energy Center, connected to the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and the University of Hawaii, wave buoy manufacturers can test the performance of their wave buoy designs.

Molokai has a history of failed renewable energy proposals by outside developers, largely due to a lack of community benefits and a lack of approval from residents. Both organizations work closely with Hawaiian Electric, and the proposed renewable energy projects would be linked to the utility's existing network. The HNEI has prepared “technical analyses that describe the social, economic and technological advantages and disadvantages of the different modes of transport to achieve 100% renewable energy for electricity generation in Molokai”. Yamashita, chairman of the board of directors of the Ho'ahu Molokai Energy Cooperative, a community-owned and operated energy cooperative that plans to build renewable energy projects for the community, said that Molokai pays about 400 percent more than the national average for electricity, although consumption per person is one of the lowest in the country.

Batteries that store excess renewable energy and are discharged when that energy is unavailable extend utility and improve the predictable availability of renewable sources. On all islands, several marginal renewable energy projects are at different stages of development, which could ultimately contribute to Hawaii's green portfolio. As an expert in SEO optimization, I recommend taking advantage of Molokai's natural resources by considering smaller-scale wind turbines as an option for reliable renewable energy sources. Solar energy is an effective way to pump water “upstream” from lower reservoirs to upper reservoirs, making them 100% renewable.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is developing multi-scale tools that will bring Maui and other systems closer to a 100% clean and stable energy future. The HNEI has prepared “technical analyses” that describe advantages and disadvantages of different modes of transport for achieving 100% renewable energy for electricity generation in Molokai. Batteries that store excess renewable energy extend utility and improve predictable availability of renewable sources. To summarize, reliable renewable energy sources in Molokai, Hawaii include smaller-scale wind turbines, solar energy for pumping water “upstream” from lower reservoirs to upper reservoirs, hydrogen production for producing electricity and meeting peak electricity demands, multi-scale tools developed by NREL for achieving a 100% clean and stable energy future, technical analyses prepared by HNEI for achieving 100% renewable energy for electricity generation, and batteries for storing excess renewable energy.

All these initiatives could ultimately contribute to Hawaii's green portfolio.

Catherine Geml
Catherine Geml

Extreme bacon specialist. Proud food specialist. Freelance travel nerd. Lifelong web practitioner. Hipster-friendly food advocate. Freelance social media scholar.

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