11-29-2013, 08:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ericlpBut I feel Hawaii isn't really based on fixing any renewable problems I mean Helco in Hilo still runs off old steam turbines that are out dated and not very efficient. Efficient is a dirty word to Helco. What would it take to scrap the hilo plant for a gas Propane fired power plant?
According to Helco's report this summer, 40% of the electricity they sell is already from renewable sources, and they're on track to hit 50% by 2015. Why in the world would you suggest diverting capital to convert one type of fossil-fuel burning plant to another kind of fossil fuel burning plant, when all forms of it have to be shipped in thousands of miles?
IIRC, the current electric energy generation mix on the Big Island includes 7% from residual oil (a byproduct of the oil refineries on Oahu), the least efficient energy source. IOW, just bump up the geothermal output and that wedge could be eliminated... but in the arena of unintended consequences, that would likely increase the price of gasoline, since residual oil would now need to be shipped back to the mainland to get rid of it.
The balance of the electricity sold in the county, about half, is generated using naphtha as the fuel. Naphtha is another fractional distillate from the oil refineries on Oahu, and therefore its cost is intertwined with the cost of gasoline. Cut off the market for naphtha and the price of gasoline will rise, as sure as the first light of morning is visible from the peak of Mauna Kea.
And need I say it... where does the propane come from? Yup, from refining oil in Oahu.
Rather than spend another penny on that obsolete technology, lets put the investment into, say, the proposed 50 KW geothermal generation plant for Kona!