The Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) is a geothermal energy power plant on the island of Hawaii, the largest island in the state of Hawaii. PGV is the first and only commercial geothermal power plant in Hawaii. Constructed on a site adjacent to failed experimental wells drilled and operated by the Hawaii Geothermal Project in the 1970s and 80s, construction on the generating facility began in 1989 and was completed in 1993. The plant was shut down shortly after the start of the May 2018 lower Puna eruption, and resumed power generation in November 2020. The plant had a generating capacity of 25 MW when it opened in 1993, increasing to 38 MW by 2012, from six production wells and five injection wells along Kīlauea’s East rift zone. Its output is sold to Hawaiian Electric Industries (also known as HELCO). The plant generated up to 25% of the island’s electrical energy in 2016. A project is underway to increase the generating capacity to a maximum of 46 MW.
History
Early exploration and development The first exploratory geothermal wells in Kapoho were drilled in 1961–62. The effort was spearheaded by local landowner Richard Lyman following a trip to Japan, where he learned of a project to lay underwater power cables between the country's islands. Upon returning to Hawaii, Lyman promoted geothermal power generation in Puna, distributed to Oahu and other population centers by underwater cables, as a way of developing the economy. He found business partners to establish Hawaii Magma Power in 1961. Exploratory wells were drilled before the company validated their insufficient potential, although Lyman claimed to the Honolulu Advertiser that the company "had mechanical difficulties and gave up."
Hawaii Geothermal Project In the 1970s, the Hawaii Geothermal Project was formed to conduct federal and state-funded research. After studies of the geology and geothermal potential of the area were completed, a site for the first well was chosen in 1975. Drilling began without environmental impact studies or a period for public input. At the time, the area around the drill site was rural and undisturbed, but subdivisions were planned nearby. The well was occasionally allowed to discharge gas and fluid from the borehole, which created a loud noise and release pollutants into the air. By 1976, three subdivisions nearby had been established and were beginning to house residents, including twelve families who lived within one mile of the well. The continued noise pollution and toxic gas discharges began to cause concern and opposition from the residents. Funds were secured from the federal and state governments to turn the well's geothermal energy into electricity. Although HELCO was among the project stakeholders, they assured stockholders that they would not invest the company's capital in the project due to the volcanic and seismic risk at the site. An experimental 3 MW generator was completed in 1981 and remained operational throughout the 1980s. However, families continued to build and move into the nearby subdivisions, resulting in several attempts and a failed lawsuit to stop the noise and pollution. Since the site was within a lava hazard zone, the generator was built on skids and housed in a building which included a crane so that the generator could be removed if lava flows threatened the facility. Additionally, the wellhead was housed in a concrete bunker that could be sealed to prevent lava from damaging the wellhead. Despite the opposition and the operating losses incurred by operating and maintaining the generator, there was enough support to keep the generator operating. In April 1989, county officials raised concerns about the condition of the facility following a minor blowout and considered reviewing and possibly revoking the operating permit for the site. After several additional incidents at the site in 1989, the facility was ordered to shut, which occurred on December 11. During its life, the HGP generator produced between 15 and 19 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
Puna Geothermal Venture
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