Hawaii partnership to explore commercial energy storage on the Big Island

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Following Seas

Well, the good news is that we have known petroleum reserves sufficient to last a couple centuries. True, we have vacuumed up a lot of the "easy" stuff, but there is more, much, much more, there to be had.

But the bad news for Hawai'i is that we don't have those reserves here, and the bad news for the planet is that if we burn up all the fossil fuels our ecology will be damaged, and life in the closed system called Spaceship Earth will be permanently altered by it. The reason Hawai'i is such a natural location for the development of renewable energy resources... the topic of this thread... is because that's all we have of our own.

Perhaps an LNG offloading and storage facility would be beneficial. Distribute NG to big power consumers and let them turn the gas into hydrogen and then electricity using the fuel cells.

An LNG terminal has been proposed for Honolulu. The proposal is under review. Meanwhile the Department of Defense is installing huge solar arrays on military property all over Hawai'i, and is also investing $ Millions in the alternative energy Excellerator program here.

As many have said, the "missing link" for green energy resources is efficient, large scale energy storage. It's a major consideration for the proposed windfarm on Lanai with undersea cables to feed Oahu. That's why this new research partnership is so exciting, because a win there will be useful for buffering all intermittent energy sources.

And that could be a big technical job creator for the state.

[terracore]

Originally Posted by Following Seas

I agree that cost is important - critical, but a 50% EV panel at the same cost would be a game-changer of massive proportions. If my understanding is still current, 17% is about the best they get now. More efficient users of elec, such as LED lighting, etc, are also players.

In the lab the 50% target has almost been met: World Record Solar Cell with 44.7% Efficiency — Fraunhofer ISE

And there are 80% panels supposedly in development.

But considering the price, don't expect them on your rooftop anytime soon.

What you said about conservation is golden. When we bought our house we immediately replaced the electric hot water heater with solar and as the house had no appliances we bought only energy efficient models (and got rebates from the state for doing so). We line dry our clothes and cook with propane. We have been using LED lighting for over 5 years. With an electric bill of about $100 a month, it doesn't make financial sense for us to convert to solar. Not until something changes.

[Following Seas]

Originally Posted by OpenD

But the bad news for Hawai'i is that we don't have those reserves here, and the bad news for the planet is that if we burn up all the fossil fuels our ecology will be damaged, and life in the closed system called Spaceship Earth will be permanently altered by it. The reason Hawai'i is such a natural location for the development of renewable energy resources... the topic of this thread... is because that's all we have of our own.



An LNG terminal has been proposed for Honolulu. The proposal is under review. Meanwhile the Department of Defense is installing huge solar arrays on military property all over Hawai'i, and is also investing $ Millions in the alternative energy Excellerator program here.

As many have said, the "missing link" for green energy resources is efficient, large scale energy storage. It's a major consideration for the proposed windfarm on Lanai with undersea cables to feed Oahu. That's why this new research partnership is so exciting, because a win there will be useful for buffering all intermittent energy sources.

And that could be a big technical job creator for the state.

You grossly over estimate the power of mankind - we are nothing compared to the power of nature. A common error, to be sure, but one eruption of Yellowstone etc., and all is back I perspective.

Hope the LG TERMINAL happens.
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