PONO PACIFIC FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH PAR HAWAII TO EXPLORE LOCAL PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE FUELS, INCLUDING SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL
Honolulu, HI – Pono Pacific Land Management, LLC (Pono Pacific), Hawai‘i’s largest private natural resource conservation company, announced today that it launched a partnership with Par Hawaii to identify and develop local sources of vegetable and other plant-based oil to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the Kapolei refinery.
Par Hawaii is Hawai’i’s largest supplier of energy products. Par Hawaii recently announced a $90 million investment to produce fuel made with sustainable feedstocks, including locally produced oil crops, instead of crude oil. Production of renewable fuels is projected to begin in 2025.
“SAF made from biofuels can deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel but with a fraction of its carbon footprint,” explains Pono Pacific’s VP of Sustainable Energy Solutions, Chris Bennett. “Producing SAF locally will undoubtedly create jobs and revenue for rural communities, therefore creating a more sustainable economy for Hawai‘i.”
Renewable diesel, which uses naturally produced or waste oils, rather than petroleum, can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power generation and transportation. Sustainable aviation fuel produced by Par Hawaii will help airlines refueling in the islands reduce their carbon footprint.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Pono Pacific to accelerate Hawai‘i’s adoption of renewable energy, provide energy security for our islands, and support the sustainability targets of other businesses,” said Eric Wright, Par Hawaii president. “Pono Pacific’s commitment to supporting sustainable, local agriculture and stewardship of natural resources are important to us. Supplementing feedstocks processed at our reconfigured refinery with locally sourced oil crops will help to build Hawai‘i energy resiliency.”
Pono Pacific will vet potential crops and identify suitable land and farming partners to determine the best long-term strategy for Par Hawaii. The goal is to produce locally sourced renewable fuel products that are accessible to all Hawai‘i residents and businesses.
“With jet fuel accounting for more than 50 percent of Hawai‘i’s transportation energy mix, I applaud Par and Pono Pacific for their bold commitment to locally produced SAF,” said Mark Glick, Hawai’i’s Chief Energy Officer. “We stand ready to support this and other similar lifecycle efforts with workforce training and technical assistance to build a clean energy economy in Hawai’i.”
About Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
SAF is a biofuel used to power aircraft that has similar properties to conventional jet fuel but with a smaller carbon footprint. It is a “drop in” fuel that is essentially indistinguishable from traditional jet fuel. It is blended with traditional jet fuel and can be up to 50 percent of the fuel blend. The Par Hawaii project will produce SAF from a well-established method referred to as hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA). In the HEFA process, a carbohydrate is converted to a hydrocarbon by removing the oxygen content in the renewable feedstock. This step uses hydrogen to remove the oxygen and produces water as a byproduct. The resulting hydrocarbon is then further processed to produce a fuel that has flow and other properties to make it suitable for consumption in an aircraft or other engine. SAF has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels.
About Par Hawaii
Par Hawaii, the state’s leading provider of refined petroleum products, is headquartered in Honolulu and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Houston, Texas-based Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. Par Hawaii owns the state’s only petroleum refinery with a capacity to process 94,000 barrels per crude oil per day in Kapolei, O‘ahu, distributes fuels via pipelines on O‘ahu and barges to all major harbors in the state, markets fuels through a network of 76 and Hele retail stations throughout Hawai‘i, and operates the Hele convenience stores. ParHawaii.com
About Pono Pacific
Pono Pacific Land Management, LLC (Pono Pacific), is Hawai‘i’s largest private natural resource conservation company and works with state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and education institutions to protect and restore sensitive ecosystems and indigenous species. Pono Pacific currently manages more than 25,000 acres of land on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Maui, has installed over 140,000 feet of conservation fencing, replanted thousands of native species, and has helped to restore and manage a variety of ecosystems statewide. The company’s mission is rooted in the Hawaiian word “pono”—doing what is right and living with integrity. Its sister companies, Pono Island Capital and Poukihi, are the building blocks to sustain life and uplift Hawai‘i’s economy and community while restoring natural resources.