Patrick K. Takahashi

Thermochemical production of methanol from biomass in Hawaii

Sufficient trees or grasses can be grown in Hawaii and converted into enough methanol to replace all of the gasoline and diesel fuel consumed in the State for ground transportation. A recent Hawaii Natural Energy Institute study shows that methanol can be produced from biomass via partial oxidation for

Hydrogen Fuel from Renewable Resources

0·16 liter-1 (wholesale price at the plant gate), based on a 760 million liter per year (MLPY) methanol plant processing 7000 tonnes day-1 of biomass feedstock (50% moisture content) from a recurring annual harvest of approximately 36 000 hectares of intensively managed, short-rotation energy crops. The capital cost of this methanol-from-biomass facility would be roughly

Identifying land potentially available for biomass plantations in Hawaii

280 million. Sufficient hydrogen added to the synthesis gas to convert all of the biomass carbon into methanol carbon would more than double the methanol produced from the same biomass base, yielding 1700 MLPY at

Hawaii: An International Model for Methanol from Biomass

0·28 liter-1 at a capital cost of

A case study of renewable energy for Hawaii

335 million.

Solar and wind energy applications in Hawaii

This article presents the results of an assessment of hydrogen production technologies and an evaluation of the technical and economic feasibilities of producing and using hydrogen from renewable resources. Technologies evaluated include biomass gasification and electrolysis of water using electricity generated from a variety of renewable energy sources. It was found that biomass gasification is the most economical process for renewable hydrogen production with methanol generated from synthesis gas, a near-term variant useful as a ground transportation fuel. Electrolysis is the most attractive option for large-scale production of hydrogen, provided cost reductions for the basic expense associated with electricity can be realized. For the long term, photoconversion offers the greatest promise of providing inexpensive hydrogen.

HAWAII'S PLAN FOR ACTION FOR A BIOFUEL R&D PROGRAM

Abstract A geographical information system (GIS) was used to expedite the site selection process for biomass energy crops in Hawaii. The GIS and database, Hawaii Natural Resources Information System (HNRIS), has been used previously to identify agriculturally suitable land for biomass crop production. A methodology is presented which extends the use of HNRIS to identify land potentially available for biomass plantations. As a test case, the island of Molokai was used to demonstrate the methodology for determining land availability in the site selection process.

The Hawaii geothermal applications program

Abstract The state of Hawaii is 90% dependent upon imported petroleum today but has embarked on a transition program to shift to indigenous renewable energy resources. Hawaii, like most tropical islands, has no fossil fuels (oil, gas, or coal) but has abundant renewable energy resources in fast growing biomass For the past 12 years, considerable work has been under way in Hawaii on the research and development of biomass and biofuels. The Hawaii Natural Energy Institute was established by the state Legislature in 1976 to be the lead agency in the state for the research and development of renewable energy. An important component in this effort has been also to examine the environmental impacts and safety aspects of renewable energy technologies, which in general have proved to be vastly superior to alternatives such as coal and nuclear energy This article summarizes progress to date in Hawaiis methanol-from-biomass research program. Although tropical island communities are somewhat unique, there is much t...

Hawaii Geothermal Project: HGP-A Reservoir Engineering

A hypothetical fuel-energy system based on indigenous, renewable resources to achieve energy self-sufficiency in Hawaii by the end of the 21st century is presented. In this case study, renewable resources would provide sufficient energy for a projected total energy consumption of approximately 335 × 106 GJ from approximately 15 GWe of installed capacity in the year 2100. The renewable fuel-energy system would feature methanol-from-biomass to meet liquid fuel requirements for surface transportation and for the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors; hydrogen via electrolysis in liquid form for air transportation and as a gaseous fuel for industrial purposes; and electricity generated from geothermal, ocean thermal, wind, and photovoltaic sources for all power applications. A green economic analysis indicates that between the years 1987 and 2100 the switch to this hypothetical renewable fuel-energy system would require expenditures of approximately

Geothermal reservoir engineering of HGP-A : a summary report of activities up to October 31, 1976. Technical report No. 19

400 billion (1986 U.S. dollars), representing a saving of approximately