Hawaiian Electric to produce power from biofuels

In Hawaii, power company Hawaiian Electric Industries' (HEI) subsidiary Hawaiian Electric is to generate electricity from biofuel sourced from locally grown materials.

Aina Koa Pono will provide the biofuels, which will be supplied to the Ka'u region-based 80MW Keahole Power Plant.

The new contract will help Hawaii reach its clean energy target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. 30% of the nation's energy is already derived from renewable sources.

Following approval from PUC, Aina Koa Pono will supply 4 million tonnes of biofuel in 2014 before increasing this to 16 million tonnes in 2015. The supply is then expected to continue for 20 years.

The biofuel would comply with Hawaiian Electric and Natural Resource Defense Council specifications.