Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority

19.716111111111 - 156.03361111111Koordinaten: 19 ° 42 ' 58 "N, 156 ° 2' 1 " W

The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority ( short Natural Energy Lab or NELHA ) is based in Kailua -Kona administrative unit of research and energy parks. The heart of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority is the 350 -acre Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park (HOST Park ) at Keahole Point.

The Natural Energy Laboratory was founded in 1974 as a branch of the University of Hawaii. The original goal was the exploration and use of thermal gradients in the oceans for energy and aquaculture. Already in 1979 the principle of the ocean geothermic energy was successfully demonstrated in a three -month trial run before the coast. Following the success of an experimental ocean thermal power plant was built with an open circuit, and from 1993 to 1998 operation.

Since the 1990s, the fields of activity in the field of Natural Energy Laboratory have expanded and numerous companies are consulted. For the detection of neutrinos in the context of the now-defunct DUMAND project, the construction of an underwater telescope was launched. The main focus of the exploration and use of renewable energies, was extended to the photovoltaic and solar thermal. Micro algae are used for the production of biofuels.