Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA)

http://www.nelha.org/index.asp

Unique Resources
Many Advantages In a Single Location

• THE LAND on which NELHA is situated consists of 870 acres with a steep offshore bathymetry for easy access to the ocean depths and what may become Hawaii's most valuable natural resource: deep ocean water.

• COLD DEEP SEAWATER (DSW) is delivered onshore at a chilly 6ºC (43ºF) from a 2,000-foot depth.

• WARM SURFACE SEAWATER (SSW) from a source rated Class AA pure, is at comfortably warm temperatures within the narrow range of 24.5º to 27.5ºC (76º to 82ºF) year 'round.

• PURITY OF NELHA'S SEAWATER SUPPLY makes it ideal as a growth medium for marine plants and animals. (Click here to view seawater quality data)

• POTENTIAL ENERGY from a natural temperature difference ("delta T") of about 20ºC between the cold and warm seawaters is available for use year 'round.

• ANNUAL SOLAR INSOLATION at NELHA is the highest of any location in the coastal United States.

• LOW RAINFALL, less than 15 inches per year, means more clear, sunny days to naturally maximize both marine and terrestrial plant photosynthesis and growth with no added expense of artificial lighting or heating, and virtually eliminates concern for unwanted dilution of critical salinities in open pond aquaculture.

• A WINTERLESS CLIMATE makes NELHA ideal for year 'round cultivation of a variety of organisms dependent on plant-based food resources.

• PROXIMITY TO KONA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT at Keahole puts NELHA at the center of the two largest markets in the world, Asia and North America. Direct flights from Kona to the East and West create opportunities to get fresh products to market fast.

• HAWAII ENTERPRISE ZONE benefits apply to qualifying businesses located at NELHA's Keahole facilities, providing significant savings to them.

• A FRIENDLY COMMUNITY where the "Aloha Spirit" is alive and well, and a stable political climate provide the setting for all ventures at NELHA.


Application of Resources
NELHA offers unique opportunities for new industry development:

• LOW COST COOLING for air conditioning and industrial cooling is extremely cost-effective using cold deep seawater to replace traditional coolants. NELHA has been saving up to $4,000 per month since it switched its 3 buildings to deep seawater-based cooling.

• A WIDE RANGE OF TEMPERATURE REGIMES can be easily created to maintain suitable environments for a wide variety of marine plants and animals as well as terrestrial flora and fauna.

deep sea water air conditioning system
This small deep seawater (DSW) air conditioning system provides cooling for NELHA's water quality laboratory, tenant laboratory space, and public meeting rooms totaling 67,200 cubic feet in two adjacent Research Compound buildings.


• ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCTION from renewable resources such as the "ocean thermal energy conversion" (OTEC) process has been the focus of energy research at NELHA, the world's leading facility for this area of research and development.

• SOLAR ENERGY from ample sunshine is available year 'round for testing and applying solar energy-based technologies.

• AQUACULTURE takes advantage of the abundant resources at NELHA to create optimum growing conditions for a wide range of marine organisms.

• MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY optimizes large-scale production of marine microorganisms with vast pharmaceutical and nutraceutical market potential. NELHA is a prime location for the development of this new multimillion-dollar industry.

• COLDWATER AGRICULTURE chills the soil using cold deep seawater to improve on nature, dramatically increasing yields for land-based crops.

• RESEARCH THAT FOSTERS INNOVATION using the unique complement of resources at NELHA is creating the industries of tomorrow... today.