Darren’s Bio
Originally from Hilo, Hawaii Darren began his energy career in 1989 working at his family’s electrical contracting business as an electrician, project manager and Vice President. In these roles he worked on a variety of projects including the construction of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan on Mauna Kea, the Subaru Astronomical Support Facility and energy efficiency upgrades at the State of Hawaii Airports.
In 1992 he transitioned into energy efficiency and renewable energy working as an EPA Energy Star “Green Light” surveyor and an entrepreneur in 1994 founding Energy Conservation and Management Hawaii (ECMH). Over his career he created several companies which he expanded internationally, led teams with several hundred employees and grew these businesses to multi-million dollar success.
Companies
Darren founded Energy Conservation and Management Hawaii (ECMH) now called Energy Industries an energy services company in 1994, Pacific Energy Services a utility consulting company in 1998 , Energy Laboratories a technology incubator in 2000, TechnOzone an Ozone gas technology company in 2000, Sopogy a concentrating solar power technology company in 2002, Energy Smart News an online energy education company in 2004, Keahole Solar Power an independent power producer in 2007. He gained experience in acquisitions leading the purchase of three energy companies and exits in selling two portfolio companies. He has raised over $70 million in equity capital, and secured $95 million in debt facilities. Combined, his businesses have sold over $1 billion in energy technology, systems and services.
Inventions
Awarded and pending patents in the following areas:
- Use of identical components in solar energy collectors (7950387)
- Use of brackets and rails in concentrating solar energy collectors (11811109)
- Mirror assemblies for concentrating solar energy (11811329)
- Support of heat collectors in solar energy collectors (11811153)
- Parking solar energy collectors (12663704)
- Solid core structure parabolic trough solar energy collection system (12854881)
- Parabolic trough solar energy collection system (12907010)
- Parking solar energy collectors from inclement weather (11811027)
- Use of identical components in solar energy collectors (11811071)
Distinctions
Darren’s entrepreneurship accolades include Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2000, Top 40 under Forty 2000 from the Pacific Business News, SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2002 for California, Hawaii and Arizona from the Small Business Administration, Hawaiian Electric Trade Ally of the Year 2006 from Hawaiian Electric, Technology Leader of the Year 2006 from the Technology Foundation, Green Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 from Hawaii Home and Remodeling magazine, Ten for Today in 2010 by Hawaii Business Magazine, The Honua (Earth) Award for Clean Energy by the Blue Planet Foundation and in 2011 received the Patriot Award in support of military personnel in the private sector.
He has a BA from the University of Hawaii and attended Portland State University where he studied electrical engineering.
He is a licensed electrical contractor, Certified Fiber Optic Designer, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Demand Side Manager, Certified Distributed Energy Professional and Certified Sustainable Development Professional. Darren is also an Eagle Scout.
Over his career Darren led his companies to the following achievements:
- Energy Conservation Hawaii – Winner Service Firm of the Year 2002 (Small Business Administration)
- Energy Industries – Winner Trade Ally of the Year 2005 (Hawaiian Electric)
- Energy Industries – Winner Technology Company of the Year 2007 (Pacific Technology Foundation)
- Energy Industries – Finalist for Best in Business Division II Year 2007 (Pacific Business News)
- Sopogy – Finalist for Venture Capital Deal of the Year 2006 (Hawaii Venture Capital Association)
- Sopogy – Winner of Venture Capital Association Deal of the Year 2007 (Hawaii Venture Capital Association)
- Sopogy – Winner of National Society of Professional Engineers New Product of the Year 2008 (NSPE)
- Sopogy – Winner of Innovation Company of the Year 2008 (Pacific Business News)
- Sopogy – Innovation by an Organization Award 2008
- Sopogy – Finalist for Global Energy Awards 2008 (Platts)
- Keahole Solar Power – Finalist for Venture Capital Deal of the Year 2008 (Hawaii Venture Capital Association)
- Keahole Solar Power – Innovation by an Organization Award 2009
- Sopogy – Winner, Gold Medal for Energy Product of the Year by Plant Engineering 2009
- Sopogy – Always on Global 250 2009, 2010, 2011
- Sopogy – Always on Going Green 2009
- Sopogy – Platts Sustainable Energy 2009
- Sopogy – Winner Hawaii Business Magazine Small Business Innovation Award 2010
Board and Advisory
Corporate
Community
- Co-chairperson of the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum
- Board of Director at the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council
- Board of Director at Enterprise Honolulu
- Board of Director at PBS Hawaii
- Board of Director and Vice President at SEE-IT
- Board of Director at Blue Planet Foundation
- Board of Director at the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
- University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Engineering Dean’s Council
- Entrepreneur in Residence at Punahou School
- Councilor at the Hawaii Academy of Science
He is a past Director at the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation the State of Hawai’s Venture Capital Fund and Past President and Chairman at PLASMA an national energy services association. He has served on the Hawaiian Electric Company Integrated Resource Plan and State of Hawaii Energy Management Advisory Committee. He also served on the 2010 Intersolar planning committee.
Cool Energy Stuff
Through his energy expertise, Darren has spoken on behalf of the US Department of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency in a number of unique regions that include Palau, Saipan, Marshall Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. He has also spoken at Punahou School, numerous industry events and before countless non-profits (including Rebuild America, BOMA, Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Board) sharing his knowledge of energy and entrepreneurship. He is also a regular speaker at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, San Jose State University, and Concentrating Solar Power conferences.
Darren and his teams have designed some of the World’s most innovative energy systems. These include ice air conditioning systems, hybrid TES/PV systems, district Ice Cooling/Heating systems, commercial fuel cell systems, advanced solar thermal systems, advanced photovoltaic technologies, smart metering, voltage regulation, ozone gas systems, digital programmable thermostats and efficient lighting technologies.
Giving Back
Darren is an avid supporter in education helping the College of Business at Stanford University, College of Engineering at San Jose State University, the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University and Chaminade. He has served as a judge and coach for the University of Hawaii Business Plan Competition, Hawaii High School Business Plan competition, Hawaii Pacific University Business Plan, Chaminade non-profit business plan. He has also been a judge for the Pacific Business News Business Leadership Hawaii awards. Through his outreach he has donated over $100,000 to the energy improvements of dorm rooms, state facilities, classrooms for Universities, Public Schools and Non-Profits across the US and Pacific.
Web Links
Entrepreneur Magazine
Greater Good Radio
Honolulu Advertiser
CSP Today
Waiakea High School
Beyond Zero Emissions
Renewable Energy World
Tech Hui: Techie of the Month
GreenHawaii.com: Extraordinary Lectures
CSP Today: Shrinking CSP
Renewable Energy World
Greater Good TV
Big Island Video News
Red Herring
ABC
Midweek
Other
As a youth Darren was an active scout having graduated as a Cub Scout, earned his Arrow of Light, member of the Order of the Arrow, and Eagle Scout. He is also an active competitor in marathons, century cycle races, swim competitions and triathlons.
He has lived in Hilo Hawaii, Portland Oregon, Seattle Washington, San Jose California and Honolulu Hawaii but still considers himself a “Hilo-boy”.
Contact
Darren can be followed at: