Get ready for some exciting news in the solar industry! Two new solar-plus-storage projects in Puerto Rico, upon receiving a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, are set to double the territory’s utility-scale solar capacity! This is a significant step forward toward greener, more sustainable energy.
Behind these substantial solar ventures is Clean Flexible Energy LLC, itself a product of vigorous synergy between two powerhouses in the energy sector. Clean Flexible Energy LLC is set to manage the construction of these solar-plus-storage projects and standalone storage projects in Puerto Rico, ushering in a new era of solar reliance in the U.S. territory.
The upcoming facilities, nestled in the municipalities of Guayama and Salinas, will consist of two sites with an impressive 200 MW of solar paired with 285 MW of 4-hour batteries. That’s 1.14 GWh of clean, renewable energy! They’re also planning to introduce two other standalone battery storage sites, with capacity details yet to be disclosed.
To give you some context, Puerto Rico currently has 124 MW of utility-scale solar generation, with numbers only expected to rise with this new endeavor. On top of utility-scale solar, there’s also 680 MW of distributed solar capacity, and the territory’s residential storage capacity reached a whopping 1.6 GWh earlier this year.
So, interested in getting solar panels for your home? Well, it’s safe to say there’s never been a better time, particularly if you’re in Puerto Rico. Recognized solar companies are making huge strides in the industry, and a solar array for home use is becoming an increasingly popular choice for savvy, eco-conscious homeowners.
The future of solar in Puerto Rico is bright, to say the least. The territory’s ambitious Act 17 aims for 40% renewable energy generation by 2025, wanting to ramp it up even further to 60% by 2040 and a bold 100% by 2050. It’s a lofty goal but, with projects like those backed by Clean Flexible Energy LLC, not one that is unreachable.
Now let’s talk potential. Puerto Rico’s technical potential for utility-scale solar, according to reports from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, ranges from 14.2 GW under a “less land” scenario to a staggering 44.7 GW under a “more land” scenario.
As always though, securing a loan guarantee from DOE isn’t as simple as just asking. Clean Flexible Energy LLC will first need to meet various technical, legal, environmental, and financial conditions before definitive financing documents can be worked out.
But if all goes well, we’ll be seeing quite a leap in renewable energy generation, a testament to the strides being made by forward-thinking solar companies. Solar power, particularly solar array for home use, is a force to be reckoned with in the energy realm. The sun is indeed shining on the future of solar energy. Stay tuned for more promising developments in our ever-evolving solar landscape!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/07/22/doe-offers-conditional-loan-guarantee-for-200-mw-solar-285-mw-storage-in-puerto-rico/
