Hawaiian Electric Companies achieve 27 percent renewable energy in 2018 despite loss of geothermal

In late February, Hawaiian Electric Companies announced that they have achieved a consolidated 27 percent renewable portfolio standard in 2018, even with the loss of Hawaii Island’s geothermal resource for most of the year following the Kilauea volcanic eruption. Hawaii has a goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. The 2018 consolidated renewable portfolio standard (RPS) remained the same percentage as it was in 2017, at 27 percent. The consolidated number would have been 29 percent had Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) produced at the same level as 2017. Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light are on their way to achieving the next mandated RPS milestone, 30 percent by 2020. The 27 percent RPS is up from just 9 percent a decade ago. The companies’ annual use of fossil fuels has declined by 88 million gallons over the past 10 years, about 19 percent.