It turns into clearer how Puerto Rico can obtain its aim of acquiring 100% of its electrical energy from renewable vitality sources by 2050.
In the course of a two-year research by the federal authorities, referred to as PR100, researchers concluded that the island has way more renewable vitality potential than it wants. The report was launched on Monday. The researchers discovered that there’s a choice amongst many residents for “distributed vitality,” which is produced near the place it’s used. Rooftop photo voltaic panels are the commonest instance of that.
“We have now confirmed that these programs are proof against hurricane winds, and that they’ll present sturdy vitality, inside hours after the storm,” stated Agustín Carbó, Director of the Division’s Puerto Rico Grid Modernization and Restoration Workforce of Vitality. Based on him, the present system of smaller, centralized and enormous energy vegetation will take longer to revive electrical energy to your complete island, particularly in distant and mountainous areas.
Final yr the DOE’s Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory, with funding from the Federal Emergency Administration Company, started finding out choices to transition the island to 100% renewable vitality by the yr 2050. The aim is to construct an electrical energy system. stronger in opposition to future storms, which local weather change analysis exhibits shall be greater and extra highly effective.
The plan is to modify from imported fossil fuels – petroleum, pure fuel and coal – to cleaner sources comparable to photo voltaic and wind. One other aim is to make electrical energy cheaper. The island’s electrical energy charges are about twice as excessive as common charges throughout the US The federal research is predicted to be accomplished by the tip of this yr.
4 completely different situations have been modeled to satisfy Puerto Rico’s targets – all together with further rooftop photo voltaic mixed with battery storage. First is the give attention to putting in distributed vitality in buildings the place the house owners can then get the monetary advantages of producing electrical energy. The second focuses on vital providers, comparable to hospitals, fireplace stations and grocery shops. The third consists of prioritizing deployment in distant and low- to moderate-income households to distribute advantages equitably. The final choice is to put in photo voltaic panels on as many different roofs as attainable.
Even earlier than all of the photo voltaic panels are put in, the research’s authors say the island wants extra electrical energy technology.
“Vital further technology capability is clearly wanted instantly to enhance reliability, which is a matter that everybody in Puerto Rico is battling after Hurricanes Maria and Fiona,” stated Carbó, who beforehand chaired the Puerto Rico Vitality Fee. . He says fossil fuels are nonetheless wanted within the brief time period because the island works to achieve its 100% renewable aim.
The Division of Vitality and FEMA gathered enter for the research with an advisory panel of practically 100 individuals and 50 public, non-public and nonprofit organizations.
“For too lengthy, Puerto Ricans have lived in an antiquated and costly electrical energy system the place pointless limitations and lengthy delays have prevented vital enhancements,” stated the Secretary of Vitality. Jennifer Granholm in a written assertion accompanying a progress report on the research.
Puerto Rico’s grid collapsed in 2017 after Hurricane Maria hit the island, killing at the very least 3,000 residents. Months later crews struggled to revive manufacturing capability and rebuild transmission strains. After years of discontent over mismanagement and corruption within the US territory’s public energy firm, the Puerto Rico Electrical Energy Authority, was privatized.
In September, Hurricane Fiona introduced greater than 30 inches of rain in some areas and knocked out energy on the island once more. There may be widespread discontent with the non-public firm, LUMA, which the federal government awarded a $1.5 billion contract to function the grid.
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