Pacific Current President Scott Valentino (left) and Pacific Biodiesel President Bob King meet in Honolulu after signing a contract to supply locally produced biodiesel for the Hamakua Energy power generation facility located on Hawaii Island.

(BIVN) – Pacific Biodiesel Technologies will supply locally produced biodiesel to Pacific Current’s Hamakua Energy power generation facility in Honokaʻa, under a new contract announced on Monday morning.

Pacific Biodiesel has a refinery at the Shipman Industrial Park in Keaʻau that “utilizes state-of-the art distillation technology to produce the nation’s highest quality biodiesel”.

Pacific Current, which acquired the Hamakua Energy power generation facility in 2017, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries. HEI also owns the Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company, the Big Island’s energy utility. HELCO has a power purchase agreement with Pacific Current, which provides 22 percent of Hawaii Island’s generating capacity, the company says.

This joint media release was issued on October 28:

Pacific Current and Pacific Biodiesel Technologies today announced the signing of a biodiesel supply contract that will help increase the use of locally sourced renewable fuels and advance Hawaii Island’s energy independence and energy security. Under the agreement, Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, owner and operator of the biodiesel refinery on Hawaii Island, will supply biodiesel for Pacific Current’s Hamakua Energy power generation facility also on Hawaii Island. The liquid-fuel-fired combined cycle power generation facility sells power to Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) under an existing power purchase agreement (PPA) and is able to provide 22 percent of Hawaii Island’s generating capacity.

The first delivery of biodiesel to the Hamakua Energy facility will be on November 4, 2019.

“This contract is an important first step for our Hamakua Energy power generating facility to reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuels both at the generating facility and in the supply chain and to advance energy independence and energy security for our state,” said Pacific Current President Scott Valentino.

Biodiesel processed at Pacific Biodiesel’s refinery in Keaau on Hawaii Island – which operates on 100% biodiesel – will be transported in biodiesel-fueled trucks to the Hamakua Energy facility where the renewable fuel will be used to generate electricity for Hawaii Island customers.

“Being on Hawaii Island, it’s very exciting that we can use this locally made biodiesel to generate power here to serve customers on this island,” Valentino said. “That’s significant, especially as fuel and other supplies are shipped around the state and we always aim to reduce our environmental impact. We are focused on reducing the state of Hawaii’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and increasing local economic development opportunities.”

Pacific Biodiesel annually produces nearly 5.5 million gallons of biodiesel at its refinery on Hawaii Island. Biodiesel is produced primarily from waste cooking oils that Pacific Biodiesel recycles from restaurants statewide. The refinery features innovative distillation technologies that enable production of biodiesel that consistently meets and exceeds industry quality standards for advanced biofuels.

“We applaud Pacific Current for their decision to choose locally made biodiesel, another significant step as Hawaii works toward a 100% renewable future,” said Pacific Biodiesel Founder and President Robert King. “The biodiesel industry nationally continues to face significant financial hardship caused by sustained lack of federal renewable energy incentives. With this new contract, Pacific Biodiesel continues to sell its entire production to customers within Hawaii and furthers its ability to continue supporting the state with green jobs, energy security, consistent greenhouse gas reduction and direct displacement of imported fossil fuels.”

The Hamakua Energy power generation facility employs 15 people on Hawaii Island; Pacific Biodiesel has nearly 100 employees statewide, with more than 50 of those employees working at its Keaau site.

Pacific Biodiesel refinery at the Shipman Industrial Park in Keaʻau