Photo voltaic panels present vitality to a group middle and faculty within the Mariana neighborhood within the metropolis of Humacao, western Puerto Rico, on Sept. 12, 2018. LESTER JIMENEZ / AFP through Getty Pictures
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A dramatic growth of rooftop photo voltaic and battery storage is critical for Puerto Rico to fulfill its renewable vitality objectives and doing so will make the territory’s grid extra dependable, secure, and inexpensive, a brand new DOE and FEMA report says.
Regardless of the island’s obvious photo voltaic and wind vitality potential, 97% of its energy technology comes from fossil fuels. Distributed renewables will help hold the lights and fridges on after main storms — as they did after Hurricane Fiona in September — and really price much less to construct than in troubled Puerto Rico. , “current fossil gas capability” working prices.
Throughout a DOE webinar on Monday, a number of Puerto Rico residents raised considerations about particular person affordability, highlighting the necessity for broader renewable funding. “We wish to have a photo voltaic group, however there’s (no) program out there for us!” Wanda Ríos wrote through the webinar.
As reported by The San Juan Day by day Star:
The 2-year examine discovered that there’s not sufficient land out there on the island for wind-power infrastructure to fulfill the 100% aim and that Puerto Rico should set up photo voltaic infrastructure on these websites reminiscent of brownfields, industrial websites and airports.
The examine estimates that Puerto Rico’s vitality transmission system can deal with the anticipated progress in renewables over the subsequent 5 to fifteen years however that extra grid upgrades can be crucial in the long run, particularly for vitality within the air.
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Puerto Rico has larger electrical energy prices than any US state besides Hawaii, which the EIA attributes to its reliance on fossil fuels. A preliminary report estimated that the set up of latest sources of renewable vitality can be more cost effective than sustaining the prevailing system and by way of working prices is already in monitor to be more cost effective by 2025.
For a deeper dive:
AP, E&E, The San Juan Day by day Star, NPR, Politico Professional, The Hill, Fox Information
For extra local weather change and clear vitality information, you may observe Klima Nexus on Twitter and Fbjoin day-after-day Scorching Informationand go to their information web site, Nexus Media Information.
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