Hawaiʻi Gas selects partners for renewable hydrogen, RNG projects

Hawaiʻi Gas, the state’s only regulated gas utility, announced on May 20 the selection of two projects from its 2023 request for proposals for renewable hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG).

The chosen projects are by Eurus Energy America for renewable hydrogen and Hawaiʻi-based Bana Pacific for RNG. Both projects will be based on Oʻahu and will enable Hawaiʻi Gas to increase hydrogen and RNG concentrations in its fuel mix.

Hawaiʻi Gas has been producing synthetic natural gas on Oʻahu since 1974, containing up to 15% hydrogen—the highest percentage of any natural gas utility in the US. Through the partnership with Eurus Energy America, which will produce green hydrogen using solar power and recycled water, Hawaiʻi Gas aims to increase the hydrogen percentage in its fuel mix to up to 20%.

Since 2018, the utility has produced RNG from biogas at the City and County of Honolulu’s Honouliuli wastewater treatment plant. The new Bana Pacific project will complement this facility by utilising bana grass as a feedstock to produce RNG.

Bana grass, also known in Hawaiʻi as cane grass, is a non-invasive grass used as cattle feed that requires relatively little water to grow. It enhances the soil's ability to naturally sequester carbon, and the RNG production process results in a byproduct of organic fertilizer.