MAUI HIGH TECH

Maui Clean Tech & Renewable Energy

Wind, water, solar – the opportunities for renewable energy research and production in Maui are boundless. Surrounded by ocean, bathed in abundant sunshine and covered by a mountainous landscape, Maui is a perfect fit for harnessing the power of mother nature.

The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative

In 2008, a partnership between the State of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Energy launched the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. The Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative aims to transform Hawaii into a world model for energy independence and sustainability. The goal is to meet 70% of Hawaii's energy needs with clean energy by 2030.

Additionally the County of Maui is charting a course to develop clean energy technologies for use at home and across the world, to help protect the natural environment for generations to come. Maui is home to a growing portfolio of power production options, including community-based sustainable biodiesel, wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric.

With aggressive high technology tax incentives – a 100% return on cash investments and a 20% research tax credit in qualified businesses – Maui looks to continue its course as a community powered by and invested in clean energy.

Clean, Renewable Energy Generation on Maui

Two large renewable energy projects—a 30-megawatt wind farm (the state's largest) and a 16-megawatt biomass power plant burning bagasse at a commercial sugar operation—already provide Maui with about 20% renewable energy generation. Maui also has a few megawatts of hydroelectric generation, and rooftop PV distributed across the island currently contributes approximately 1 megawatt to the island's renewable energy portfolio.

Additional Renewable Resources

Technical assessments show that Maui has significant additional resource potential, including

Wind energy—67 megawatts
Biomass energy—25 megawatts
Geothermal energy—140 megawatts
Solar thermal energy (exact capacity to be determined).

Proposed renewable generation projects include 42 megawatts of wind energy, 6 megawatts of biomass power, and 10 megawatts of geothermal.

Although ocean energy technologies are not yet proven on a commercial scale, Maui is at the forefront of ocean energy research. The island is planning to help test and demonstrate a wave project off its north coast in the near future.

Maui Clean Technology Firms

Company	Products / Services
Bio Energy Systems of Hawaii	Renewable energy production facilities development and operation, with an emphasis on biomass fueled systems
HC&S Company	Bagasse and hydroelectric power generation
Hnu Photonics	Diversified renewable technologies, scientific instruments and medical devices incubator; mechanical, opto-mechanical and electro-opto-mechanical technologies manufacturer
Kaheawa Wind Power	Wind power production
Pacific Biodiesel	Community-based biodiesel fuel production
Peletex	Air filtration research and development