Puerto Rico 2050: The Green Odyssey

Dear Business Leader,

In a bold stride towards sustainability and resilience, Puerto Rico has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap aiming for a revolutionary transformation of its energy landscape by 2050.

This ambitious initiative, catalyzed by the devastating impact of back-to-back hurricanes in 2017 that decimated approximately 80% of the island's electrical infrastructure and tragically claimed thousands of lives, seeks to pivot the Commonwealth entirely towards renewable energy sources.

The enactment of Act 17, a visionary policy commitment, has set the wheels in motion toward achieving a future powered entirely by renewable energy by the mid-21st century.

The foundation of Puerto Rico's green energy transition is supported by a remarkable finding from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

An extensive analysis revealed the island's solar potential to be a staggering 40 gigawatts (GW), a capacity more than sufficient to cater to its energy needs.

Specifically, the potential splits into 20 GW of utility-scale solar predominantly along coastal regions and an equivalent capacity in distributed solar energy systems. According to the Solar + Energy Storage Association (SESA) President PJ Wilson, merely a quarter of this potential, 10 GW, could fulfill the island's current energy requirements.

A detailed study, the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100), charts a course for achieving this green transition. The study delineates a series of phased actions - immediate, near-term, mid-term, and long-term - supplemented by ongoing efforts to build, enhance, and maintain a resilient and renewable energy infrastructure.

U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, emphasized the administration's commitment to realizing Puerto Ricans' aspirations for a cleaner, more sustainable, and resilient energy future as envisaged during her interactions with communities across the island.

The PR100 study outlines three distinct scenarios for the adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs), ranging from economically driven selections by building owners to maximize bill savings and backup power, to the maximal deployment on all suitable rooftops. The scenarios also consider the socioeconomic inclusivity of DER technologies, extending their benefits to low-income households and remote areas traditionally marginalized in energy transitions. Furthermore, the study acknowledges the intrinsic value of Puerto Rico's agricultural lands and the challenges of projecting future electrical loads, adding layers of complexity to planning and implementation strategies.

Key implementation actions outlined in the report include:

1. Immediate Steps: Strengthening the electrical grid's robustness to accommodate higher renewable energy levels, including initiatives like the Battery Emergency Demand Response Program by LUMA to encourage grid-interactive customer battery use.
2. Near-term Goals: Achieving 40% renewable energy through industry-standard system performance improvements and resilience bolstering measures.
3. Mid-term Objectives: Reaching a 60% renewable threshold, emphasizing operational experience and adaptive system design.
4. Long-term Vision: Attaining 100% renewable energy through effective deployment and management of a complex, integrated system.
5. Ongoing Efforts: Continuous engagement with stakeholders, workforce development, and system enhancements to support the renewable transition, anticipating the creation of approximately 25,000 jobs.

The journey towards a fully renewable Puerto Rico is depicted as a collaborative, iterative process requiring sustained effort, innovation, and community engagement.

By placing the PR100 study into the hands of implementors, Puerto Rico embarks on a historic quest to redefine its energy paradigm, setting a global benchmark for sustainability, resilience, and collective willpower in the face of climate challenges. The path laid out is not just a blueprint for energy transformation but a testament to Puerto Rico's resilience and commitment to a sustainable future.

Stay well. Swim strong!

Warmly,

David

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© Published by: David Vogel, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

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