DOE study says Puerto Rico can easily go 100% renewable by 2050

An abstract report from the Dept. of Power and FEMA concludes that Puerto Rico can meet its electrical energy wants with 100% renewable power by 2050. The report, Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100), outlines paths to success, together with grid stabilization measures and the deployment of distributed power assets like photo voltaic.

To help Puerto Rico’s power resilience and clear power targets, DOE introduced a Feb. 22 beginning date for Puerto Ricans to use for DOE’s Programa Acceso Photo voltaic (Photo voltaic Entry Program) — a program designed to attach as many as 30,000 low-income households with residential rooftop photo voltaic and battery storage techniques with zero upfront prices.

This program is a consumer-facing software section of the first round of funding from the Puerto Rico Power Resilience Fund, a $1 billion DOE program targeted at bettering the resilience of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid with an emphasis on the area’s most weak and deprived households and communities.

“During the last two years, we’ve been working with our companions at DOE throughout the Biden-Harris Administration alongside the Puerto Rico Authorities to prioritize the PR100 research and make it an actuality,” mentioned FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Using our partnership, we are going to present Puerto Rico communities, together with those that are disproportionately affected by disasters, a generational alternative to turn out to be extra resilient. As these findings are being put into apply, we stay more dedicated than ever to the island’s restoration and modern options like this research to not solely tackle disaster-related injury, but in addition, guarantee a sustainable approach ahead.”

PR100 Examine Findings

Launched in February 2022 with funding from FEMA, PR100 engaged with various native stakeholders concerning their priorities for their power future; gathered and generated precious information units; and created superior fashions to challenge situations for reaching 100% renewable power. PR100 contains an implementation roadmap, offering decision-makers in Puerto Rico particular actions that may be taken to stabilize the grid, enhance resilience, and obtain native renewable power targets. The 2-year PR100 Examine relied on intensive stakeholder entry, together with an advisory group of almost 100 people from 60 organizations representing the general public, personal and nonprofit sectors.

Notable findings of the PR100 study embody:

• Puerto Rico can transition to 100% renewable power by 2050 and has greater than sufficient renewable power useful resource potential to fulfill its present and future electrical energy wants by 2050. Prioritizing stakeholder and neighborhood entry in addition to interagency coordination will likely be crucial in guaranteeing an equitable transition.
• Puerto Rico should enhance new energy technology infrastructure considerably — on the dimensions of tons of megawatts — to stabilize the grid and alleviate present technology shortfalls, together with fast deployment of utility-scale and distributed renewable assets and important quantities of storage.
• Renewable power targets could be met by growing renewable power initiatives on land that isn’t designated for agricultural functions. Whereas there’s sufficient renewable power potential on non-agricultural land to fulfill the whole annual electrical load now and through 2050, these websites are inclined to have larger prices.
• Underneath all situations of the research, Puerto Rico’s rooftop photo voltaic capability and storage capability will considerably enhance by 2050. Even when rooftop photo voltaic and batteries are added to all appropriate rooftops, utility-scale renewable power and storage initiatives will nonetheless be wanted to fulfill electrical load reliably.
• Investments in new technology to create a dependable grid might result in a fee increase. A strategic plan to regulate fee impacts while reaching higher reliability over the close period is required and will give attention to maximizing the use of distributed assets (like rooftop photo voltaic, power effectivity, and storage) in addition to cost-effective administration of assets on the grid scale.

Programa Acceso Photovoltaic

DOE is launching the Programa Acceso Photo voltaic as a part of the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund to attach as many as 30,000 low-income households throughout Puerto Rico with sponsored residential photo voltaic panels and battery storage techniques. Low-income households throughout Puerto Rico can go to energy.gov/solarPR to examine their eligibility, put together required documentation, and establish their native Photo voltaic Ambassador. Photo voltaic Ambassadors encompass 16 native organizations chosen by DOE to conduct outreach in focused communities and to course of purposes to the Programa Acceso Photo voltaic. The application interval will open on February 22 when eligible households can apply by their Photo voltaic Ambassadors. Purposes will likely be accepted on a rolling foundation and prioritized primarily based on eligibility. DOE anticipates excessive demand for this program. Potential candidates are inspired to evaluate eligibility necessities and reach out to their Photo voltaic Ambassadors as quickly as possible.

Residents could also be eligible for the Programa Acceso Photo Voltaic if they match all three of the next standards:

1. They’re low-income, as demonstrated by enrollment in an authorities help program (Low-Earnings Residence Power Help Program, Diet Help Program, or Nonpermanent Help for Needy Households)
2. They personal the single-family dwelling wherein they at the moment reside
3. And EITHER: A resident of their family depends on an electrical energy or battery-dependent medical gadget because of a medical situation or incapacity OR their tackle is eligible for a setup. DOE has recognized eligible areas throughout Puerto Rico primarily based on if they have an excessive share of low-income residents and have experienced lengthy and frequent energy outages. Directions for confirming tackle eligibility can be found on energy.gov/SolarPR.