H-Power: Powering The Future Waste to Energy: Fuel of the 21st century at Honolulu Power

( 10

Highlights of H-Power Keeps trash out of landfills Reduces Trash by 90% of original amount. 1 Keeps trash out of landfills Reduces Trash by 90% of original amount

Lot-o-Trucks “The Campbell Industrial Park facility that crushes the contents of 300 garbage trucks per day, burns the crushed pulp and converts the heat to electricity.” 1 3

A whole lot of Trash “Oahu generates 1.6 millions tons of waste per year… H-Power disposes of 600,000 tons of that.” 1 Oahu creates 500,000 tons of trash each year that go to landfills, of which 200,000 tons a year go to a privately operated construction landfill. “That leaves 300,000 tons a year of raw garbage buried at Waimanalo Gulch.” 4 “Oahu generates 1.6 millions tons of waste per year… H-Power disposes of 600,000 tons of that.” 1 Oahu creates 500,000 tons of trash each year that go to landfills, of which 200,000 tons a year go to a privately operated construction landfill. “That leaves 300,000 tons a year of raw garbage buried at Waimanalo Gulch.” 4 13

Expansion of H-Power “A proposal to add a third boiler would cost the city $64.1 million, and would increase the plant’s capacity by 20 %, keeping about 120,000 tons of unprocessed garbage out of Oahu’s landfills.” 1 14

Recycling Paper with H- Power “Burning…is also recycling.” 2 With shipping prices increasing burning is more fiscally responsible. “Burning…is also recycling.” 2 With shipping prices increasing burning is more fiscally responsible. 2

2

Energy Produced H-Power produces enough enough energy to power 40,000 homes. 3 Results in an annual savings of 800,000 barrels of oil per year. 3 H-Power produces enough enough energy to power 40,000 homes. 3 Results in an annual savings of 800,000 barrels of oil per year. 3 1

Expansion of H-Power Planned Expansion would increase capacity from 600,000 to 720,000 tons per year. 3 By our calculations this would produce electricity for 8,000 more homes which would save Oahu from using 160,000 more barrels of oil per year. As said earlier a lot of trash goes into Waimanalo Gulch that could be burned (not including to construction materials which can’t be burned). For arguing sake let’s say 240,000 of the 300,000 tons could be burned this would save a lot of trash from going into landfills and this would produce electricity for 16,000 additional houses saving another 320,000 barrels of oil per year. Planned Expansion would increase capacity from 600,000 to 720,000 tons per year. 3 By our calculations this would produce electricity for 8,000 more homes which would save Oahu from using 160,000 more barrels of oil per year. As said earlier a lot of trash goes into Waimanalo Gulch that could be burned (not including to construction materials which can’t be burned). For arguing sake let’s say 240,000 of the 300,000 tons could be burned this would save a lot of trash from going into landfills and this would produce electricity for 16,000 additional houses saving another 320,000 barrels of oil per year.

In English What this means is if we expanded H- Power to handle much more trash, we could save 360,000 additional tons of trash from landfills(on top of the 600,000 now). Also, we could power 24,000 more homes saving 480,000 more barrels of oil per year to produce electricity, which would decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

Uses of Ash (Product of burning) “Possible beneficial uses for ash are currently being researched and evaluated. Led by the City and County of Honolulu, one such study is currently underway at the HPOWER facility where ash is being tested as a road aggregate.” 5 Ash from H-Power was used in the Concrete for Case Middle School, so the products can be used a usable source to save other resources. “Possible beneficial uses for ash are currently being researched and evaluated. Led by the City and County of Honolulu, one such study is currently underway at the HPOWER facility where ash is being tested as a road aggregate.” 5 Ash from H-Power was used in the Concrete for Case Middle School, so the products can be used a usable source to save other resources.

Help by Recycling “Without HPOWER, metals such as aluminum and steel that are thrown away in the trash would simply be buried in a landfill.” 5 “Instead, 20,000 tons or 40 million pounds of metals are recycled each year at HPOWER.” 5 “Without HPOWER, metals such as aluminum and steel that are thrown away in the trash would simply be buried in a landfill.” 5 “Instead, 20,000 tons or 40 million pounds of metals are recycled each year at HPOWER.” 5

Reduced Emissions Waste-to-energy plants cause “less environmental impact [than] almost any other source of electricity.” 6 Every metric tonne (roughly 1.1 tons) of garbage in landfills increases Carbon Dioxide emissions by roughly 1.3 metric tonnes. 6 Landfill gas contains “54% methane and 46% Carbon Dioxide.” 6 Only about 25% of trash in the average landfill is biodegradable. 6 Waste-to-energy plants cause “less environmental impact [than] almost any other source of electricity.” 6 Every metric tonne (roughly 1.1 tons) of garbage in landfills increases Carbon Dioxide emissions by roughly 1.3 metric tonnes. 6 Landfill gas contains “54% methane and 46% Carbon Dioxide.” 6 Only about 25% of trash in the average landfill is biodegradable. 6

Cool Facts “Unlike other types of renewable resources, waste-to-energy is considered base load power that operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year- enough to power 2.3 million American homes. This accounts for nearly 20 percent of all renewable electricity generation in the U.S.” 7 According to our calculations if 2,563 megawatts 9 are created by all WTE plants and 57 are created by H-Power 8 then all of the WTE plants can save million barrels of oil per year in the US. “Unlike other types of renewable resources, waste-to-energy is considered base load power that operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year- enough to power 2.3 million American homes. This accounts for nearly 20 percent of all renewable electricity generation in the U.S.” 7 According to our calculations if 2,563 megawatts 9 are created by all WTE plants and 57 are created by H-Power 8 then all of the WTE plants can save million barrels of oil per year in the US.

H-Power Benefits/ Limitations Trash is a renewable source because it is always going to be produced. Saves space in landfills Renewable energy source that can produce electricity 24 hours per day 365 days a year. Low amounts of pollution. Less pollution from trash then if trash was in a landfill By products can actually be used. Increases recycling of products which would normally be put into landfills. Saves oil which would normally be used to power gas generators in the islands. Trash is a renewable source because it is always going to be produced. Saves space in landfills Renewable energy source that can produce electricity 24 hours per day 365 days a year. Low amounts of pollution. Less pollution from trash then if trash was in a landfill By products can actually be used. Increases recycling of products which would normally be put into landfills. Saves oil which would normally be used to power gas generators in the islands. Initial Start-up Price Requires real estate Not all trash is combustible Still produces some pollution There is a finite amount of trash Hard to get plastic out to recycle. Initial Start-up Price Requires real estate Not all trash is combustible Still produces some pollution There is a finite amount of trash Hard to get plastic out to recycle.

Movie Tour of H-Power (Time permitting)

Works Cited 1.Blakeman, Karen. "H-Power upgrade sought." The Honolulu Advertiser. 9/22/04. 3/9/ Dingeman, Robbie. "City considers burning wastepaper for energy." The Honolulu Advertiser. 1/20/07. 3/15/ Leone, Diana. "Plant showcases power over trash." Starbulletin. 9/26/04. 3/9/ Leone, Diana. “Firms offer to take city trash to mainland." Starbulletin. 9/25/04. 3/9/ "Protecting The Environment." (A Proven Record of Protection Oahu's Environment.) HPower. 3/29/ Themelis, Nickolas J. "An overview of the global waste-to-energy industry." Waste Management World. 3/9/07. th/papers/global_waste_to_energy.htmlhttp:// th/papers/global_waste_to_energy.html 7."Energy." Integrated Waste Services Association. 3/29/ "About HPower." (Keeping Oahu Clean & Beautiful By Recycling waste Into Energy.) HPower. 3/29/ "REPiS: The Renewable Electric Plant Information System 1999 Edition." NREL: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 3/29/ "The HPower Process." HPower. Covanta Energy. 12 March, "Bulldozer." February StarBulletin. Honolulu Star Bulletin. 12 March, /22/news/story01.html 12.Kojima, Craig T. "Keehi Transfer Station." 20 April, StarBulletin. Honolulu Star Bulletin. 12 March, php?fr=/2006/04/20/news/story11.html 13.Oda, Dennis. "Dump Truck." 20 November StarBulletin. Honolulu Star Bulletin. 12 March, "The H-Power Plant in Campbell Industrial Park." Honolulu Energv: Department of Environmental Services. City & County of Honolulu. 12 March, "HPower Video Tour." HPower. Covnata Energy 12 March, Blakeman, Karen. "H-Power upgrade sought." The Honolulu Advertiser. 9/22/04. 3/9/ Dingeman, Robbie. "City considers burning wastepaper for energy." The Honolulu Advertiser. 1/20/07. 3/15/ Leone, Diana. "Plant showcases power over trash." Starbulletin. 9/26/04. 3/9/ Leone, Diana. “Firms offer to take city trash to mainland." Starbulletin. 9/25/04. 3/9/ "Protecting The Environment." (A Proven Record of Protection Oahu's Environment.) HPower. 3/29/ Themelis, Nickolas J. "An overview of the global waste-to-energy industry." Waste Management World. 3/9/07. th/papers/global_waste_to_energy.htmlhttp:// th/papers/global_waste_to_energy.html 7."Energy." Integrated Waste Services Association. 3/29/ "About HPower." (Keeping Oahu Clean & Beautiful By Recycling waste Into Energy.) HPower. 3/29/ "REPiS: The Renewable Electric Plant Information System 1999 Edition." NREL: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 3/29/ "The HPower Process." HPower. Covanta Energy. 12 March, "Bulldozer." February StarBulletin. Honolulu Star Bulletin. 12 March, /22/news/story01.html 12.Kojima, Craig T. "Keehi Transfer Station." 20 April, StarBulletin. Honolulu Star Bulletin. 12 March, php?fr=/2006/04/20/news/story11.html 13.Oda, Dennis. "Dump Truck." 20 November StarBulletin. Honolulu Star Bulletin. 12 March, "The H-Power Plant in Campbell Industrial Park." Honolulu Energv: Department of Environmental Services. City & County of Honolulu. 12 March, "HPower Video Tour." HPower. Covnata Energy 12 March,