Projects

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Fuel Assessments

Liquefied Natural Gas for Hawai‘i: Policy, Economic, and Technical Questions (2012-2013) – John Cole
Evaluated the potential importation of LNG to Hawai‘i and concluded that LNG could dramatically cut energy costs for consumers if obtained from the right source and on gas-indexed prices.

Biomass & Biofuels

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production – Scott Turn
Conduct research that supports development of supply chains for sustainable jet fuel production in Hawaiʻi.

PHA Bioplastics from Biomass – Jian Yu
Develop a biorefinery technology to produce biochar-like solid fuel and bioplastics from cellulosic biomass.

Fuel Characterization by Multidimensional Gas Chromatography – Scott Turn
Identify and characterize trace quantities of heteroatomic organic species in aviation, maritime, and diesel fuels.

High Rate Anaerobic-Aerobic Digestion – Michael Cooney
Produce a master design, inclusive of PID diagrams, costing, manufacturing, and shipping to build and install a wastewater treatment system designed from past research and commercial demonstration projects.

Liquid Fuels from Synthesis Gas (2012-2020) – Jian Yu
Developed technologies to produce high-grade liquid fuel from synthesis gas derived from agricultural wastes.

Hydrogen

NELHA Hydrogen Station and Fuel Cell Electric Buses – Mitch Ewan
Evaluate the technical and financial performance, and durability of the equipment, and support a fleet of three hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses.

MCBH “Fast Fill” Hydrogen Station (2010-2020) – Mitch Ewan
Installed and operated a “Fast Fill” (less than 5 minutes) hydrogen production and dispensing station to evaluate the performance and durability of the equipment, and support a fleet of 16 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

Solar Fuels

Solar Fuels Generation – Nicolas Gaillard
Improve the durability and conversion efficiency of novel chalcopyrite thin-film photo-absorbers for photoelectrochemical production of solar fuels, aiming for a $2/kg production cost of renewable hydrogen.

Methane Hydrates

Methane Hydrates (2001-2020)
Support exploration of hydrate reservoirs, development of methods to destabilize hydrates to produce methane fuel, and advance our understanding of the environmental impacts of methane and other hydrocarbons in the ocean.

Microbial Degradation of Hydrocarbons in Marine and Estuarine Environments (2010-2020)
Identify aquatic microbes that effectively degrade hydrocarbon pollutants in estuaries and the ocean and elucidate the mechanisms of this degradation.

Methane Harvesting for Seafloor Power Generation (2019) – Scott Turn
Identify robust, practicable systems to harvest fuel methane from seafloor seeps and convert it to electrical power; and develop a conceptual design of the best candidate system(s) for a 1kW subsea AUV charging station.

Methane Dissolution Rates in the Deep Ocean (2019) – Brandon Yoza
Employ HNEI’s unique laboratory-scale deep ocean simulator facility to measure the dissolution rate and hydrodynamic behavior of methane bubbles at conditions in the ocean down to 1000m depth.

GRID INTEGRATION & RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION

Grid System Analysis

NELHA HOST Park Microgrid Analysis – Leon Roose
Determine the feasibility and benefits of modifying the current energy system at NELHA’s HOST Park to enable it to operate as a microgrid connected to HELCO’s electric grid system or as a stand-alone facility.

Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i Installation Energy Security Plan – Leon Roose
Support MCBH in completing its Installation Energy Security Plan to enhance installation energy resilience and improve mission assurance.

O‘ahu Distributed PV Grid Stability Study (2015-2017) – John Cole
Evaluated grid stability and dynamic performance of O‘ahu with increasing levels of distributed photovoltaic solar resources during contingency events, and assessments of grid strength and battery energy storage.

O‘ahu-Maui Grid Interconnection Study (2013-2014) – John Cole
Examined the value of prospective interconnected operation between the O‘ahu and Maui County (Maui, Lana‘i, and Moloka‘i) power grids via submarine power cables, advanced control systems, and operational strategies.

Hawai‘i Solar Integration Study (2010-2012) – John Cole
Examined the operational impact of high penetrations of solar and wind energy on the O‘ahu and Maui bulk power systems.

Grid Technology: Development and Demonstration

Grid-Scale Battery Testing – Marc Matsuura
Evaluate three grid-tied Battery Energy Storage Systems addressing different issues arising increasing renewable energy penetration levels. Facilitates the discovery of benefits and unexpected adverse consequences arising from this technology on isolated grids.

Fast Frequency Response Battery on a Low-Inertia Grid – Marc Matsuura
Evaluate fast frequency response of a BESS on the island of Molokaʻi, which could impact industrial standards for metering and frequency measurement during electrical transients on low-inertia grids.

Coconut Island DC Microgrid – Leon Roose
Demonstrate the reliability, resilience, and energy efficiency of a DC microgrid serving two buildings on Coconut Island.

Ka Honua Momona: Maximizing Efficiency of Off-Grid Nano-Grid – Jim Maskrey
Convert an existing off-grid solar PV system, battery storage, and a backup fossil fueled generator, into a more efficient “smart” nano-grid.

Development and Verification of AI-Based Microgrid Platform and Business Model – Mark Glick
Demonstrate an advanced control system for an artificial intelligence-based microgrid incorporating distributed solar and energy storage will optimize NELHA’s HOST Park.

Load and PV Data Synthesis – Leon Roose
Synthesize a full set of disaggregated solar photovoltaic and customer load data from a limited number of field measurements to enable more realistic distribution feeder modeling and state analysis for circuits with high distributed PV penetration.

Solar Power Forecasting – Dax Matthews
Develop advanced forecasting methods and technologies to predict solar photovoltaic power generation from minutes to days ahead.

Dynamic Load Bank for Islanded Grid Solutions – Leon Roose
Demonstrate a reliable and inexpensive means to prevent the baseload diesel generators from operating below their minimum dispatch level during periods of high solar generation.

Advanced Real-Time Grid Energy Monitor System (ARGEMS) – Kevin Davies
Develop a low-cost device and system that can provide enhanced situational awareness allowing tighter, localized coordination of distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar photovoltaics.

Advanced Conservation Voltage Reduction Development & Demonstration – Leon Roose
Demonstrate conservation voltage reduction as an effective way to save energy due to energy and peak demand reductions in voltage level.

Sustainable Grid Platform with Enhanced System Layer and Fully Scalable Integration (2017-2020) – Leon Roose
Supported the long-term goal of designing highly scalable technologies for distribution systems to operate reliably and securely with extremely high penetration of distributed energy resources.

Smart Grid Inverters for High-Penetration PV Applications (2011-2015) – Leon Roose
Integrated grid management functionality software and standards-based communications hardware and software to develop and demonstrate use of a “smart grid inverter.”

Maui Smart Grid Demonstration (2008-2014) – Leon Roose
Developed and validated the use of smart grid technology to reduce peak demand and facilitate the integration of intermittent renewable technologies.

Ocean Energy

Research Support to the U.S. Navy Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) – Patrick Cross
Provide key research support to this national effort in the form of environmental monitoring, independent wave energy conversion device performance analysis, and critical marine logistical support.

The Hawaiʻi Wave Surge Energy Converter (HAWSEC) – Patrick Cross
Mature a wave energy conversion device concept that can ultimately produce cost-effective renewably generated electricity for coastal communities.

Hawai‘i National Marine Renewable Energy Center – Patrick Cross
Facilitated the development of commercial wave energy systems by assessing the power performance of prototype wave energy conversion devices and evaluates their potential environmental impact.

ELECTROCHEMICAL POWER SYSTEMS

Fuel Cells

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Contamination – Yunfeng Zhai
Develop effective methods to restore the performance loss caused by air contaminants in proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems, especially those restored by interrupting the contaminant exposure.

Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell – Tatyana Reshetenko
Evaluate the performance of anion exchange membrane fuel cells under various operating conditions. Advance understanding the effects of membrane electrode assemblies components on mass transport and water management.

Active and Durable PGM-Free Catalysts for Fuel Cell Applications – Tatyana Reshetenko
Develop platinum group metal free catalyst for electrochemical oxygen reduction to potentially reduce the production cost of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

NELHA Hydrogen Station & Fuel Cell Electric Buses – Mitch Ewan
Evaluate the technical and financial performance, and durability of the equipment, and support a fleet of three hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses.

Fuel Cell Development for Electric Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – Keith Bethune
Support the Naval Research Laboratory’s efforts to develop lightweight, high efficiency fuel cell systems for UAVs.

Transition Metal Carbide Catalysts for Electrochemical Applications – Jing Qi
Develop transition metal carbide catalysts for electrochemical applications including fuel cells, water electrolyzers, and vanadium redox flow batteries.

Water Purification Via Membrane Filtration – Jean St-Pierre
Develop a novel, low-cost water purification technology with ion exchange membrane and porous media that may reduce the energy consumption to less than 1 kWh/m³ for seawater desalination.

MCBH “Fast Fill” Hydrogen Station (2009-2020) – Mitch Ewan
Installed and operated a “Fast Fill” (less than 5 minutes) hydrogen production and dispensing station to evaluate the performance and durability of the equipment, and support a fleet of 16 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

Mass Transfer Analysis for High Power Fuel Cells (2015-2019) –Tatyana Reshetenko
Developed a novel diagnostic method for the determination of mass transfer parameters which will provide guidance for improvements in electrode structure design.

Airborne Contaminants Effects on PEMFCs (2010-2018) – Jean St-Pierre
Studied the impacts of critical airborne contaminants common to vehicle exhaust and other emissions on FC performance and durability. Determined the mechanisms and developing strategies to mitigate performance loss.

Fuel Cell Model Library (2007-2014) – Kevin Davies
Developed an open-source library of PEMFC models in the Modelica language to support understanding of PEMFC operation and analyze contaminant impacts at single cell and stack levels.

Determination of Mass Transfer Coefficients in PEM Fuel Cells (2012-2013) – Tatyana Reshetenko
Developed a method to separate reactant mass transfer coefficients in gas and solid ionomer phases of a PEM fuel cell.

Batteries

Battery Energy Storage Systems Durability and Reliability – Matthieu Dubarry
Understand the degradation of batteries in grid deployed systems, which will inform best practices to improve durability and safety of large batteries deployed on the electric grid.

Path Dependence of Battery Degradation, EV Batteries for Grid Support – Matthieu Dubarry
Characterize the impact of fast charging and grid-vehicle interactions on the performance and durability of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles.

Battery Diagnosis and Prognosis – Matthieu Dubarry
Develop tools, protocols, and new approaches to improve batteries diagnosis and prognosis via non-invasive in-operando techniques.

Battery Electrode Optimization – Matthieu Dubarry
Optimize battery electrodes to improve performance by tuning architecture.

ADVANCED MATERIALS

Advanced PV Materials

Printable Photovoltaics – Nicolas Gaillard
Develop high-throughput ink-based fabrication techniques for light-weight thin film photovoltaics, which potential to significantly reduce manufacturing costs and enable PV integration on non-conventional substrates.

Hydrogen Storage

Magnesium Boride Etherates for Hydrogen Storage – Godwin Severa
Synthesize and characterize novel modified magnesium boride materials with improved hydrogen cycling kinetics and hydrogen storage capacities.

Develop Advanced Magnesium Boride Hydrogen Storage Materials – Godwin Severa
Obtain key information for the development of a comprehensive, multi-scale computational model of reversible hydrogenation of magnesium boride to magnesium borohydride.

Gas Purification

Development of Novel Air Filtration Materials – Godwin Severa
Design, synthesize, and characterize novel, reversible high-performance acidic gas (SO_x, NO_x, and H₂S) contaminant absorbent materials that will enable fuel cell vehicles to be efficiently operated under harsh atmospheric air environments.

Contaminant Mitigation

Regenerative Air Filtration Materials – Godwin Severa
Develop air filtration materials that are capable of regeneration through UV light exposure, which could be used to purify air for stationary and vehicle fuel cell power plants.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & TRANSPORTATION

Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Building Energy Reduction in Future Transit Oriented Development Areas  – Jim Maskrey
Develop and demonstrate a building energy analysis process that can be used during early design phases at multiple transit-oriented development sites located along Oʻahu’s light rail line.

Energy Efficient Home Design: Department of Hawaiian Home Lands – Jim Maskrey
Provide technical support to the DHHL and two sets of their design/builders to improve comfort and energy efficiency of homes built in their neighborhoods.

Project FROG Net Zero, Mixed Mode Buildings – Jim Maskrey
Understand energy performance and operation of net zero energy, mixed mode buildings in tropical climate and to use the buildings as real-world research facilities for the study of energy efficient building features and control strategies.

Adaptive Lighting and Energy Efficient Security Strategy – Jim Maskrey
Develop and test an adaptive lighting system, based on novel Light Detection and Ranging sensor, that has the potential to significantly enhance security and dramatically reduce energy use and maintenance costs.

State of Hawai‘i Department of Education: Thermal Comfort Portal Web Hosting – Jim Maskrey
Provide HIDOE with the technical resources and expertise to support the delivery of energy and weather data that enables researchers, the community, and design professionals to make data-driven decisions for designs and resource allocation.

Desiccant Dehumidification for Mechanical HVAC Systems in Tropical Environment (2016-2017) – Jim Maskrey
Investigated non-conventional liquid desiccant dehumidification systems, identified applications in Hawai‘i, proposed a pilot design and identified a potential site for the implementation of a pilot.

State of Hawai‘i Department of Education Facilities Energy and Comfort Study (2015) – Jim Maskrey
Monitored, evaluated, and assessed specific school facilities using a range of DOE-defined criteria that includes environmental conditions, energy use, comfort and other human factors related to healthy learning environments.

Seawater Air Conditioning

Seawater Air Conditioning Environmental Monitoring – Margaret McManus
Develop a thorough understanding of the baseline oceanographic conditions at the proposed site of the Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning system, and ultimately use these data to assess the environmental impacts of its operation.

Transportation

Bi-Directional EV Charging Demonstration Project – Leon Roose
Develop and evaluate the performance of novel algorithms to optimize the charge/discharge of shared fleet vehicles, which will help to inform University consideration of various options.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production – Scott Turn
Conduct research that supports development of supply chains for sustainable jet fuel production in Hawaiʻi.

Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (2013-2018) – Kathy McKenzie
Partnered with Florida Solar Energy Center to test commercial lithium ion batteries under Vehicle-to-Grid and Grid-to Vehicle conditions to forecast their durability and assess battery degradation factors in relation to EV technologies.

O‘ahu Electric Vehicle Charging Study (2012-2013) – Kathy McKenzie
Quantified impacts of EVs in reducing curtailed wind and solar energy with controlled EV charging strategies under several future scenarios with high penetrations of wind and solar energy on O‘ahu’s electricity grid.

ENERGY POLICY & ANALYSIS

Stochastic Modeling for High Renewable Grids – Richard Rocheleau
Develop novel methodologies and tools to properly evaluate system risk and capacity shortfalls in high percentage renewable grids.

Integrated Stability and Cost Production Analysis – Richard Rocheleau
Develop a new tool to evaluate grid stability over the entire range of operations expected throughout the course of a year.

Grid Reliability with AES Retirement – Richard Rocheleau
Evaluate the ability of proposed solar + storage resources to maintain grid reliability with the pending AES coal plant retirement.

Oʻahu Grid Stability with High Solar + Storage Integration – Richard Rocheleau
Evaluate the dynamic stability of the Oʻahu grid after a sudden loss of the largest generating unit, the AES coal plant, and addition of the Stage 1 solar + storage projects.

Curtailment and Grid Services with High Penetration Solar + Storage – Richard Rocheleau
Assess the impact of HECO PPA structures and plant configurations on curtailment when large amounts of solar + storage are added to the grid. Identify how these resources could be leveraged to increase value and flexibility.

Capacity Value of Storage with High Penetration of PV and Storage – Richard Rocheleau
Evaluate the ability of battery energy storage to reliably replace the aging fossil-fired generation fleet in Hawaiʻi.

Decision Support Services to the Hawaiʻi Public Utility Commission – Richard Rocheleau
Support the Hawaiʻi PUC by providing independent third-party technical expertise on a variety of analyses.

Support of Integrated Grid Planning – Richard Rocheleau
Support the Hawaiʻi PUC in their request to provide leadership in the Technical Advisory Panel of HECO’s IGP process to determine which types of resources and grid services should be invested in.

GHG Reduction from Electrified Transportation – Richard Rocheleau
Quantify the net greenhouse gas benefits of electric vehicles compared to the current fleet and other vehicle options for the island of Oʻahu.

Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum (HEPF) – Richard Rocheleau
Support the activities of the HEPF in its mission to enable informed decisions to advance Hawaiʻi’s clean energy future by convening a network of stakeholders.

Energy Briefs – John Cole
Inform a wider audience with accurate, easy to understand descriptions of analyses and issues related to Hawai‘i’s energy transition to foster better informed discussion for both energy stakeholders and members of the public.

Vietnam Low Emission Energy Program (V-LEEP) RPS Development (2018-2020) – Mark Glick
Advised and guided Vietnamese stakeholders on the design of a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS), which resulted in a replicable structure and framework for evaluating best practices for renewable policy development in this rapidly growing economic region.

Hawai‘i Renewable Portfolio Standards Study (2013-2015) – John Cole
Utilized modeling tools to identify and evaluate cost-effective pathways that support growth of renewables on O‘ahu and Maui with a goal of achieving RPS targets.

Geothermal Strategic Development Study (2012-2013) – Richard Rocheleau
Assessed state, industry, and utility interest in developing new geothermal energy resources and offered recommendations to prepare for potential development scenarios and suggested a roadmap for implementation in Hawai‘i.

Hawai‘i State Bioenergy Master Plan (2008-2009) – Scott Turn
Developed a plan to address land and water resources, distribution infrastructure, labor resources, bioenergy technology, permitting, financial incentives, business partnering, and economic and environmental impacts.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Asia Pacific Regional Energy System Assessment – Richard Rocheleau
Develop comprehensive energy system assessments that include strategy, policy, technology options, implementation plans, and training for energy system transitions in select locations throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

EGAT Renewable Integration Study – Leon Roose
Conduct a renewable energy integration study, in collaboration with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, for Thailand and enhance the professional capacity of its engineers in advanced study methods and tools.

Vietnam: Mapping of Renewable Energy Sector Innovation System – Mark Glick
Provide financial support and guidance to NISTPASS to map the innovation system in the renewable energy sector in Vietnam. Identify key stakeholders for further policy and institutional support.

Feasibility Study on the National Load Dispatch Center Energy Storage Project – Mark Glick
Recommend grid scale BESS for consideration by Vietnamese regulators for the advancement of policy and tariff formulation at the national level to meet Vietnam’s the unique grid challenges.

U.S. India Collaborative for Smart Distribution with Storage (UI-ASSIST) – Kevin Davies
Foster international collaboration around smart grids, particularly distribution systems and microgrids with solar photovoltaics and energy storage.

Development and Verification of AI-Based Microgrid Platform and Business Model – Mark Glick
Demonstrate an advanced control system for an artificial intelligence-based microgrid incorporating distributed solar and energy storage will optimize NELHA’s HOST Park.

Vietnam Low Emission Energy Program (V-LEEP) RPS Development (2018-2020) – Mark Glick
Advised and guided Vietnamese stakeholders on the design of a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS), which resulted in a replicable structure and framework for evaluating best practices for renewable policy development in this rapidly growing economic region.