HNEI to explore use of Flash Carbonization™ technology to produce charcoal from Honolulu sewage sludge

Flash Carbonization™ tests of Honolulu’s sewage sludge are being sponsored at HNEI to help eliminate smoke emissions from the Flash Carbonization™ Demonstration Reactor, reduce CO emissions to satisfy regulations, and to produce sewage sludge charcoal for various market studies. Read more about Biocarbons (charcoal). Contact Michael Antal for more information.

Hawaii Bioenergy Master Plan In Development – Stakeholders Welcome

HNEI is leading the development of a Bioenergy Master Plan for the State of Hawaii under contract to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The project was established under Act 253, SLH 2007 and its completion is scheduled for December 12, 2009. Please visit the project website.

HNEI issues RFP for the supply of a "turn-key" hydrogen fueling station for the Hawaii Hydrogen Power Park

Mitch Ewan, HNEI’s Hydrogen Systems Program Manager, invites proposals for the supply of a “turn-key” hydrogen fueling station to support his Hydrogen Power Park project. See the RFP for details on this RFP. See the Q&A page Issue #1, Q&A page Issue #2, Q&A page Issue #3, Q&A page Issue #4, Q&A page Issue #5, Q&A page Issue #6, Q&A page Issue #7, Q&A page Issue #8 for a listing of all questions asked about this RFP and answers provided.

HNEI Researchers Seek Graduate Students!

In connection with on-going research efforts at the Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute, HNEI faculty members Michael Antal and Stephen Masutani seek graduate students to act as graduate research assistants (GAs) in the immediate future. Please check out the Graduate Assistantship notice for possibilities. Contact Michael Antal and/or Stephen Masutani for more information.

National Science Foundation awards Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/U CRC) grant to HNEI, focused on Bioenergy

The Center for BioEnergy Research and Development is a consortium of six universities (South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota State University, Kansas State University, State University of New York Stony Brook, North Carolina State University, and University of Hawaii) funded by the NSF I/U CRC program. Each member of the consortium has also secured cost-shared participation by industrial members as required by the I/U CRC program. For more information on the membership or programs contact Scott Turn.

HNEI awarded $5 million to establish Marine Renewable Energy Center

HNEI was selected by the US Department of Energy to establish one of two National Marine Renewable Energy Centers. The grant will be for about $1 million/year for up to 5 years. The project will involve research and development of technologies that harness the power of waves and ocean thermal energy conversion. For more information see the Press Release from Senator Akaka's Office. Contact Richard Rocheleau for more information.

NSF funds HNEI charcoal fuel cell research!

HNEI has received a National Science Foundation grant to support its development of a fuel cell that consumes charcoal and directly generates electrical power. This biocarbon fuel cell has the potential to achieve 100% efficiency! Read more about the biocarbon fuel cell... Contact Michael Antal for more information.

HNEI graduate assistant wins ARCS award

The Honolulu chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientist (ARCS), Inc., recently presented 24 awards to UH graduate students. The Robbins Award in Solar Energy Research was won by HNEI's Jess Kaneshiro for his work on novel thin-film energy conversion devices. Contact Jess Kaneshiro for more information.

HNEI team wins $7 million DOE energy modernization project

UH’s Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, in cooperation with General Electric, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, Columbus Electric Cooperative, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Sentech, and UPC Wind, will explore the management of distribution system resources for improved service quality and reliability, transmission congestion relief, and grid support functions. The 3-year project will be deployed at the Maui Lani Substation on Maui and will also involve $8 million in non-federal funding. See the State of Hawaii news release. Contact Terry Surles or Richard Rocheleau for more information.

HNEI partners with mainland company to win DOE Small Business Innovation Research grant for biodiesel production

HNEI's Dr. Michael Cooney has partnered with Community Fuel's Chris Guay to investigate the heterotrophic production of biodiesel from yeast and microalgae (see photo of Chlorella prototheocoides microalgae on the right). In addition to culture techniques, Dr. Cooney and Guay are interested in novel solvent technologies for the direct transesterification of biodiesel from microbial cells. Contact Michael Cooney for more information.

HNEI team shares in a $4 million Multi-University Research Initiative project

HNEI's enzymatic bio-fuel cell team led by Drs. Cooney and Liaw is participating in this recently awarded DOD Air Force project led by the University of New Mexico. The enzymatic bio-fuel cell program is also supported by ONR HEET funds as well as a DCI Postdoctoral Fellow Research Program award, in which a prestigious postdoctoral fellow position is now available. Potential candidates wishing to apply should visit this site: http://www.hnei.hawaii.edu/employ.asp?view=vacancy, or contact Drs. Cooney cooney@hawaii.edu or Liaw bliaw@hawaii.edu for more information.