Hello all, today I’ll be shedding some light on an impressive initiative out of Puerto Rico that underscores the importance and functionality of solar energy, especially during emergency states. If you’re considering solar panels for your home, this is an example worth looking into.
Sunrun, one of the leading residential solar companies in the U.S, is championing a unique solar program in Puerto Rico. They’ve brought together a community of almost 1,800 solar-powered households onto a platform called ‘PowerOn Puerto Rico,’ demonstrating the full strength of a solar array for home use.
This program, essentially a virtual power plant (VPP), allows Puerto Rican households to contribute excess energy from their solar-plus-storage systems to stabilize the electrical grid. The structure serves as an alternative solution to power shortfalls and aids in avoiding blackouts or the dependency on fossil fuel power plants, all while acting as examples of the functionality of solar panels for your home.
The exciting part? Sunrun’s solar battery fleet in Puerto Rico contributes more than 15 MWh of energy in support of the grid. Interestingly, every household keeps an average of 40% of storage capacity reserved for personal backup, striking a balance between community support and individual security.
What’s more, participation does not go uncompensated. On average, Sunrun estimates that a participant will receive around $550, though the final amount depends on the number of power-sharing events. The more these occur, the higher the compensation, which is one of many solid reasons to plug into local solar companies and their initiatives.
This PowerOn Puerto Rico program, run by Sunrun, makes the case for home-based solar arrays sprouting across the region as they can provide on-demand energy at critical times. Moreover, it highlights the resilience of the Puerto Rican community, consistently stepping up to the challenge and championing sustainable energy solutions via the solar panels for their homes.
Solar is quickly evolving into something more than just an alternative power source. Puerto Rico’s distributed energy system, for example, currently contains around 1.6 GWh of residential-sited batteries. More so, their distributed-generation solar capacity has tripled over the past two years which further amplifies how solar pervades the market and bolsters energy resilience for communities.
Considering the countless advantages of installing a solar array for home use, I believe this trend will persist. Numerous solar companies are organizing similar initiatives, both in America and around the world, to stabilize grids and fortify energy independence. It’s high time to rethink how we view solar energy at home and contribute positively to both our environment and community.
Remember, signing up with a solar company to power your home is not just about saving money anymore. It’s about building a resilient, sustainable community that is ready for whatever the future might bring. Now, isn’t that a bright idea?
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/05/07/virtual-power-plant-preventing-blackouts-in-puerto-rico/
