AN OVERVIEW OF THE HAWAII PLAY FAIRWAY PROJECT (Invited Presentation)

Electricity prices in the State of Hawaii are the highest in the US and about double the national average, in part due to the fact that roughly 80% of Hawaii’s energy is from imported petroleum. The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic in origin, yet the extent of the State of Hawaii’s geothermal resource is largely uncharacterized. A statewide geothermal resource assessment published in 1985 found a potential resource on all islands. Since then, little additional exploration was conducted, until the US Department of Energy-funded Hawaii Play Fairway project, which started in 2014 and is ongoing. Phase 1 of this project identified, compiled and ranked existing geologic, groundwater, and geophysical datasets relevant to subsurface heat, fluid and permeability. A statistical methodology to integrate these data into a resource probability map was developed. Phase 2 of the project involved collection of new groundwater and geophysical data in 10 locations across the state, with an intensive focus on Lanai, Maui, and central Hawaii Island, as well as modeling of topographically induced stress to better characterize permeability. Phase 2 data were incorporated into an updated resource probability map. Here I will present an overview of Phases 1 and 2 of the Hawaii Play Fairway project, and comment on Phase 3 plans.