Assessing Hawaii’s Hydropower Development Potential:

Conventional and Ocean Energy Alternatives

Hawaii Pacific GIS Conference 2012

Honolulu Convention Center, March 5th 2012

Study Purpose and Overview ● State-Wide Assessment (Reconnaissance Level)

● Partners:

USACE Honolulu District (Deborah Solis, PM)

Dept. of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)

EA Engineering + Helber Hastert & Fee Planners Joint Venture

Hawaii National Marine Renewable Energy Center at UH

● Initiated in 2009

100% Federally funded

● Tool for developers & decision makers

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History of Traditional Hydro in Hawaii

- Most geographically remote major island chain in the world

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- Long history of traditional

hydro in Hawaii

- Sugar mills

- Ditch systems

Photos: Wilcox (1998)

Current Energy Portfolio

● Most fossil fuel dependent state in the nation

● 90% of energy needs supplied by imported oil

● Spend as much as $7 billion annually outside the islands to meet energy needs

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BIO

MA

SS

P

ET

RO

LEU

M

HYDRO

CO

AL

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Update 1981 report and provide ‘snapshot’ of

hydroelectric power in Hawaii

Project Elements – Traditional Hydro

Desktop review of traditional hydro plants:

- Presently operating

- Once operational

- Proposed in the past but never built

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Environmental Endangered Species/Critical Habitat

Conservation Districts

Screening Criteria - Hydropower

Economic

Commercial/tourism use

Capacity

Calculated Incremental Energy Cost

Accessibility/transmission lines

Social

Cultural Impacts

Water Sports

Recreational use

Federal Interest

6 Determination of Power Potential & Costs

Category

Incremental

Annual

Energy

Incremental

Power

Capacity

Hydraulic

Head and

Average Flow

Site Coordinates

1 Database Not Needed Not Needed Not Needed

2 Calculated Database Not Needed Not Needed

3 Calculated Calculated Database Not Needed

4 Calculated Calculated Calculated Database

5 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown GIS

Industry-standard

conversions

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Potential for web interface,

hosted by DBEDT, mid-2012

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• General review of

resource potential for

ocean energy in

Hawaii

Project Elements – Ocean Energy

• Consideration of

opportunities and

constraints in a

spatially explicit

context (e.g. low-level

marine spatial

planning)

• Hawaii is already a

leader in ocean

energy R&D

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Marine Spatial Planning for Ocean Energy

RESOURCES CONSTRAINTS

VERSUS

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Mahalo for your time and interest!

Full Report Available – Includes:

- Report

- Excel database of existing, retired and proposed hydro

For a copy:

1) See me after the presentation

2) http://www.poh.usace.army.mil/CW/CWProjects.htm#HIST

Contact:

Deborah Solis (USACE)

Deborah.A.Solis@usace.army.mil

808-438-0701

Geospatial data hosted by DBEDT mid-2012