Aina Koa Pono moves forward with biodiesel plant

In Hawaii, biodiesel producer Aina Koa Pono is developing a biofuel plant and has awarded Aecom Technology with the EPC management contract.

Upon completion, the $350 million (€245 million) production facility will produce biofuel from a variety of biomass feedstocks, including invasive plants, for use in a number of applications, including transport and power plants.

Most of the biofuel produced at the site will be sold to Hawaiian Electric Co.; the utility signed a purchase agreement to buy 16,000 gallons of biodiesel a year for use in its subsidiary's Keahole power plant.

The biodiesel will replace 100% of the fossil diesel currently burned at the plant each year.