What's happening at PGV
Wednesday December 10, 2008
Puna Geothermal Venture Celebrates 15 Years of Geothermal Power in Hawaii
(Pahoa, Hawaii—December 10, 2008)—Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) celebrates 15 years of producing renewable geothermal electricity on Hawaii Island as the state seeks to tap greater levels of clean renewable energy resources—particularly for electric transportation.
“When Big Island residents are sleeping, geothermal energy might be charging their electrical vehicles or producing hydrogen fuel,” said Lt. Governor James “Duke” Aiona, Jr.
Hawaii recently announced plans for electric vehicle recharging stations across Hawaii. An electric car powered by geothermal energy was on display at the PGV event.
“Hawaii Island promises to be in the forefront of the electric vehicle network because the island already has more than 30 percent of its electric power coming from alternatives—20 percent from here at PGV,” the Lt. Governor told the group.
Roughly 200 business and community representatives, supporters and employees of PGV attended a luau luncheon at the plant facility in Pahoa, Hawaii.
“We at Puna Geothermal Venture consider this geothermal resource a gift, to be used wisely,” said Kaleikini. “We recognize that we—all of Hawaii—are in fact the beneficiaries of this tremendous natural and sustainable resource. In this special year for our company, we want to express our sincere appreciation to our Big Island friends and neighbors, staff, suppliers, stockholders, and colleagues around the state for their continuing support as partners in our growth.”
In operation since 1993, Puna Geothermal Venture delivers 30 megawatts of firm, renewable energy to Hawaii Electric Light Company, providing nearly 20 percent of the Big Island’s electricity needs. The only commercial geothermal power plant in the state, PGV is located in Puna District in Kilauea Volcano’s East Rift Zone. State-of-the-art technology generates power by extracting steam and hot water from this volcanic hot spot and converting it into electricity. One hundred percent of its fluids are injected back into the Earth’s interior without exposure to the open air. As a result the plant has near zero emissions.
“The underground geothermal resource at PGV has the capacity to generate considerably more than 30 megawatts,” says Kaleikini. “We are poised to expand our production to help meet the Big Island’s emerging energy needs.”
Geothermal energy is what’s known as a “firm” resource—when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, heat from the earth continues to produce steady flows of geothermal steam used to produce electricity, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Puna Geoethermal Venture is an affiliate of Ormat Technologies, In., based in Reno, Nevada. In operation since 1993, Puna Geothermal Venture produces geothermal electricity that provides electricity for nearly 20 percent of the electricity needs of Hawaii Island.
CONTACT:
Kayleen Polichetti
Hastings & Pleadwell: A Communication Company
Tel.: 808-538-0797 ×5
Email: kkp@hastingsandpleadwell.com