Biofuels Company Wins Hawaii Contract

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An algae biofuels company planning a pilot farm in Waiawa is the fourth company to finalize a contract with Hawaiian Electric Co. to supply locally produced fuel to its generating units.

The contract with Ohio-based Phycal announced Thursday is for 100,000 to 150,000 gallons of fuel to be tested in the utility’s Kahe Generating Station. If successful, a follow-up contract for three million gallons a year for three years is expected.

While the electric utility has successfully tested 1.6 million gallons of Malaysian palm oil in its Kahe generator, Phycal CEO Kevin Berner said that testing the algae biofuel was required to ensure compliance with emissions standards.

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