What is HNEI?
The Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), a research unit of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM), conducts research of state and national importance to develop, test, and evaluate novel renewable energy technologies. The Institute leverages its in-house work with public-private partnerships to demonstrate real-world operations and enable integration of emerging technologies into the energy mix. Founded in 1974, HNEI was established in statute in 2007 to address critical State energy needs.
HNEI Mission
To research, develop, test, demonstrate, and validate cost effective and practical solutions to deliver commercially viable renewable energy and energy efficiency to Hawai‘i and the world.
HNEI employs an integrated approach to developing public/private partnerships and management of projects to reduce Hawai‘i’s dependence on imported energy resources and move the state toward energy self-sufficiency, including projects that: 1) address critical technical, scientific, and policy barriers to achieving energy self-sufficiency; 2) emphasize innovative technologies and approaches focusing on environmental attributes, reliability, and affordability; 3) ensure that technologies and processes developed will be commercially viable; and 4) give priority to indigenous Hawai‘i resources.
HNEI Spotlights
Research Areas
Latest HNEI News
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May 30, 2023 HNEI Battery Research Highlighted by Two High Impact publicationsHNEI Associate Researcher Matthieu Dubarry and his team published two new articles related to battery digital twins. First,... -
March 1, 2023 HNEI’s Demonstration Program Providing EV Access to UH Mānoa PersonnelHNEI's Grid System Technologies Advanced Research Team (GridSTART) is providing University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa personnel access to... -
January 1, 2023 Recent HNEI Publications (July – December 2022)Below is the list of peer-review papers published by HNEI faculty and staff from July to December 2022. ...
