Hawaii calls for biodiesel suppliers

In Honolulu, Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Company has submitted a request for an annual supply of 3 to 7 million gallons of biodiesel.

The biodiesel will power the 100MW Campbell Estate Industrial Park generating station – one of the world's largest commercial-scale power plants to be 100% fuelled by biodiesel.

250,000 gallons of the biofuel supply will go towards powering the Honolulu International Airport Emergency Power facility, an 8MW facility expected to be operational by mid-2012.

In the proposal, Hawaiian Electric outlines its preference for biodiesel manufactured locally from feedstocks native to the region.

However, if domestically produced biodiesel that meets the requirements of the RFP is unavailable in the near term, bidders can propose biodiesel made elsewhere, or a combination of local an further afield.

The Renewable Energy Group (REG) currently supplies the biodiesel for the plant but this contract expires in July next year. The approved bidder will begin supplying the facility from this date onwards for a minimum of three years.

In addition to biodiesel, Hawaii is also generating renewable energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and tidal sources in a bid to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

All proposals must be submitted to Hawaii State Public Utilities Commission by 15 March 2011.