Hawaii Gas receives first Clean Energy LNG shipment

Hawaii Gas has received its first shipment of around 7,100gal of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from natural gas fuel supplier Clean Energy Fuels.

The Hawaii-based company recently received approval from the Public Utility Commission of Hawaii to land containerised LNG for use as a back-up fuel source for its Oahu synthetic natural gas plant. It is now set to begin a pilot project aimed at exploring the expanded use of LNG in four to six years.

Clean Energy LNG production vice president Brian Powers said that natural gas meets the fueling needs of Hawaii Gas in an economically and environmentally friendly manner.

"Hawaii Gas has shown leadership in its multi-year commitment to bring the benefits of natural gas to the ratepayers of Hawaii," Powers added.

Loaded into an ISO container at Clean Energy’s liquefaction plant in Boron, California, the LNG was shipped to Honolulu, where it was re-gasified and injected into the Hawaii Gas utility distribution pipeline.

Hawaii Gas chief executive officer Alicia Moy said that the initial LNG shipments represent an important step in support of the company’s clean energy future.

"Bringing LNG in ISO containers allows us to diversify our existing fuel supply. As we bring in larger quantities of LNG, we believe we can meet the needs of the people and businesses of Hawaii by lowering their cost of energy with a lower-carbon fuel," Moy added.

The company is working in partnership with stakeholders throughout the state to use LNG as a cleaner burning fuel for utility and commercial power generation and ground and marine transportation.

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Image: LNG loaded onto an ISO container at Clean Energy’s liquefaction plant in California. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.