Hawaii is committed to replacing imported oil with indigenous, renewab
le energy resources to enhance the economic and environmental security
of the state's citizens. A case study of Hawaii's fuel-energy balance
by the end of the 21st century which features two scenarios, a 'Busin
ess-as-Usual' energy system, based on imported fossil fuels, and a 'Re
newable-Energy' scenario, based on an alternative energy system consis
ting entirely of indigenous, renewable energy resources, is presented.
In the year 2100, a projected total energy consumption of approximate
ly 335 million gigajoules would be provided from a hypothetical renewa
ble-energy system of approximately 13 gigawatts-electric of installed
capacity. This system would feature methanol-from-biomass to meet liqu
id fuel requirements for surface transportation, industrial, commercia
l, and residential sectors; hydrogen via electrolysis in liquid form f
or air transportation and as a gaseous fuel for industrial purposes; a
nd electricity generated from geothermal, ocean thermal, wind, and pho
tovoltaic sources for all power applications. A comprehensive economic
analysis, including capital costs, operating and maintenance costs, a
ir pollution costs for the total fuel cycle of each energy system, and
a local multiplier effect factor of 3.75 per dollar, indicates that b
etween the years of 1987 and 2100 the 'Business-as-Usual' scenario wil
l have expended approximately $600 billion (1986 US dollars), and the
'Renewable-Energy' scenario will have cost approximately $400 billion.
By switching from imported fossil fuels to indigenous, renewable ener
gy resources during this time period, Hawaii's citizens could save app
roximately $200 billion to help preserve paradise.