A Systems Approach to Energy Sustainability in Hawai´i County

Hawai´i County´s is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels for both power generation and transportation. The Hawai´i County Council directed the Hawai´i County Department of Research and Development to create a plan to transition the Island from fossil fuel use to a system based on greater efficiency and renewable energy. A baseline energy study was conducted to characterize the current quantity, source, and end use of energy used on the island. With due consideration to local resources and culture, options for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy generation were quantified. This study found that fossil fuel use in 2030 could be reduced to 31% of primary energy demand, with energy efficiency measures and renewable generation constituting 23% and 46%, respectively.