Regulators have rejected part of an IRP filed by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority that calls for building new gas generating plants. Instead, they want to see more renewables, storage, virtual power plants, and mini grids.
A draft plan by PREPA calls for the largest battery storage in the history of the United States along with more than 2,000 MW of new solar power. The plan is scheduled to be made public officially on February 12.
Off the east coast of Puerto Rico, there are two island municipalities. One, Isla de Vieques, has an area of about 134 square miles and a population of 8,825. The other island is Isla Culebra, which has an area of 11 square miles and a population of just under 1,800. Both islands were hit badly by Hurricane Maria, and now both have been given substantial aid by Tesla.
Puerto Rico stands at a very interesting juncture. Does it rebuild its power infrastructure according to traditional, centralized models, where in this case most of the power was generated in the south of the island and most of the demand came from the north, or does it embrace a wholly new model?
Tesla, sonnen, and other solar power companies are rushing to build solar-powered microgrids on Puerto Rico, where 80% of the population is still without electricity.
