Following a 2023 request for proposals, Hawai‘i Gas has announced the selection of two projects the utility believes will enable it to continue to focus on diversification, energy resiliency and maintaining affordability.
In May, Hawai’i Gas selected Eurus Energy America for a renewable hydrogen project and Bana Pacific for a renewable natural gas project. Both projects will enable Hawai‘i Gas to increase hydrogen and RNG concentrations in its fuel mix.
The companies were chosen after a thorough review and evaluation of eight project submissions. Evaluation criteria included technical maturity and team capability, project reliability and cost, and the overall positive impact on Hawaii.
“We are firm in our commitment to a sustainable and energyresilient Hawaii,” said Alicia Moy, president and CEO of Hawai‘i Gas. “Partnering with Eurus Energy America and Bana Pacific helps increase our investment in renewables, diversifies our fuel supply with local resources, and demonstrates projects that can scale and support the state’s clean energy goals.”
The Eurus Energy America project will use power from a new photovoltaic solar facility to produce electricity that will power an electrolyzer, which will split recycled water into oxygen and hydrogen. With this partnership, Hawai‘i Gas aims to increase the percentage of hydrogen in its fuel mix up to 20%.
The Bana Pacific project uses bana grass—a non-invasive perennial crop known locally as cane grass—which is harvested and fed into large tanks where microorganisms consume organic material and produce biogas. This RNG is then treated and injected into the Hawai‘i Gas utility pipeline system on Oahu. This process also produces a digestate that is rich in nutrients and can be used as a fertilizer to promote the growth of bana grass or other crops.
Bana grass is particularly suited for this process because, unlike annual crops that die off each year, bana grass has deep roots that enhance soil carbon storage, contributing to long-term carbon sequestration.
According to Nicolas Rodier, executive director of clean energy and innovation at Hawai‘i Gas, the utility has significant experience with both hydrogen and RNG. The Oahu utility system—supplied by the Hawai‘i Gas Synthetic Natural Gas Plant, which has been in operation for 50 years—contains 10% to 12% hydrogen, and Hawai‘i Gas has been adding RNG produced at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Oahu SNG system since 2018.
Rodier says these new projects represent the next step in Hawai‘i Gas’ path to reducing its carbon intensity.