Hawaii Gas wins biogas contract from City and County of Honolulu
Hawaii Gas, the state’s only regulated gas utility, has won a contract to capture and process biogas from the City and County of Honolulu’s Honouliuli wastewater treatment plant.
The City and County of Honolulu is a consolidated city–county located in the US state of Hawaii.
“This is a great example of how our administration is always looking for ways to leverage resources to benefit taxpayers, even finding a way to use a by-product from our wastewater treatment facility and landfills,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Caldwell said: “As the State’s gas utility, Hawaii Gas was the most qualified to partner with the City to develop this resource, which was previously unutilised. The capturing and processing of biogas is done across the nation as one of the most efficient ways to develop renewable natural gas.”
‘Win-win partnership’
“This is a win-win partnership for the residents of Honolulu and our customers,” said Alicia Moy, president & CEO, Hawaii Gas.
Moy added: “Incorporating cost-effective renewable natural gas as part of our fuel mix is a key priority as we continue to advance Hawaii’s clean energy future. We look forward to working with the City on this project and other projects like it, so that we can provide renewable fuels for our customers, and provide the City with a steady stream of revenue.”
Currently, the Honouliuli wastewater treatment plant produces the equivalent of 800,000 therms of biogas annually. The gas is flared (or burned). By selling the biogas, the City and County of Honolulu will generate revenue, Hawaii Gas said.
The awarded contract expires 31 December, 2024, with a provision to extend the term. Hawaii Gas will invest in the infrastructure to process the raw biogas for use and to connect the Honouliuli wastewater treatment plant to the company’s existing pipeline. The project is estimated to take between 12 to 18 months to become operational, subject to the permitting process and approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.
