Abandoned Fishing Nets Power Over 300 Homes in Honolulu
The Hawaii Nets to Energy Program converts hundreds of tons of recovered marine gear into electricity for the local grid.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Energy
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Should local governments prioritize converting recovered ocean debris into electricity as a standard waste-management practice?
The Hawaii Nets to Energy Program has processed 832 tons of recovered fishing gear since its 2002 launch to generate electricity. This ongoing initiative converts marine waste into power at the H-Power waste-to-energy facility in Honolulu.
Why it matters
The program mitigates environmental damage to Hawaiian reefs by repurposing derelict fishing gear that would otherwise threaten marine ecosystems. This waste-to-energy model provides a functional end-of-life pathway for debris that accumulates at a rate of 52 metric tons annually.
The program generates enough electricity to power more than 300 homes annually. Specifically, every 100 tons of processed nets provides enough energy to power 43 homes for one year.
The players
Hawaii Nets to Energy Program
An initiative that processes abandoned marine gear into electricity at the H-Power waste-to-energy facility.
NOAA
The federal agency that leads the removal of derelict fishing gear from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The details
Recovered nets are deposited in collection bins at Pier 38 in Honolulu before being transported to a recycling facility. At this site, the nets are chopped into smaller pieces to facilitate efficient combustion. The material is then incinerated at the H-Power waste-to-energy facility, where the heat produced is used to create steam, which powers turbines to generate electricity.
Timeline
1996: NOAA began removing derelict fishing gear from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
2002: The Hawaii Nets to Energy Program was established.
March 21, 2025: NOAA updated the Marine Debris Program page.
The Tech Race
The initiative functions as a specialized extension of the broader NOAA Marine Debris Program, which tracks gear accumulation across the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. While removal efforts manage the physical recovery of gear, this facility provides a critical energetic endpoint for the waste.
Residents in Honolulu benefit from the program as it removes hundreds of tons of hazardous material from regional waters. The facility currently converts enough recovered gear annually to support the energy needs of over 300 homes.
The takeaway
The program demonstrates how persistent marine waste can be repurposed as a fuel source rather than being sent to landfills. Observers should track if processing volumes increase in proportion to the 52 metric tons of fishing gear that accumulates annually in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Further reading
Learn more about local utility shifts in our Energy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
Live Poll
Should local governments prioritize converting recovered ocean debris into electricity as a standard waste-management practice?
