puerto rico’s devastated electric grid could be a big opportunity for renewable energy - energy storage solutions
Even before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the island's grid was in terrible condition.
Nearly half of the country's electricity comes from expensive oil destined for the island.
Power outages occur frequently, and electricity prices are higher than anywhere else in the United States. S. except Hawaii.
The territorial power authorities in debt trouble were unable to resolve the issue.
These problems, by contrast, are now trivial.
The vast majority of the island's population is currently without electricity.
The authorities acknowledged that it would take a few months for them to resume power in some areas.
Nevertheless, energy experts say the rebuilding work offers a unique opportunity for the island's future grid: a state --of-the-
Using art systems built from scratch using renewable sources such as wind and solar energy, it will be cheaper to operate and better to respond to the next hurricane.
The reimagined grid will depend on the concept of the micro-grid, which is a localized grid that allows the community to maintain power even if the centralized power plant is not operational.
Small grid
Scale power plant
Think about small solar panels, or a few wind turbines
And energy storage solutions like batteries to keep electricity flowing.
The transmission line can connect the micro-grid to the wider grid but does not require a link.
On Friday, Puerto Rico's governor, Ricardo Rosselló, hyped the idea, saying he was considering making it a possible step in the territory of Island 3. 4 million.
Rosselló said: "We can start to divide Puerto Rico into different regions . . . . . . Then start developing micogrids . ".
"It doesn't solve the problem, but it will definitely start lighting up Puerto Rico sooner.
"According to energy policy experts, it also makes sense from an economic point of view to move to energy sources such as wind energy and solar energy.
The use of the micro-grid means that the island can avoid investing in expensive long periods of time.
The next storm easily destroys long-distance transmission lines.
Wind and solar energy will also free Puerto Rico from oil, a relatively expensive commodity compared to other sources of electricity.
"If the standard is that Puerto Rico should buy the cheapest electricity for its residents, it's not oil," said Jeff Navin, former deputy chief of staff of the United States. S.
Department of Energy.
"Solar and wind energy, frankly, is much cheaper for anything else.
"Despite these advantages, there is no guarantee that Puerto Rico will switch to a renewable smart grid when it is rebuilt.
Prior to Maria, the island's energy authorities had made slow progress in renewable energy, but planned a transition to natural gas, which included a $0. 38 billion LNG terminal.
Natural gas is the cheapest source of electricity in many parts of the country and the most logical alternative to wind and solar energy in Puerto Rico.
But there are still some obstacles, including the high cost of capital to build new transmission lines.
The challenge of transporting natural gas to the island has become more complicated by the Jones Act, a federal law that requires such transportation to the United StatesS. -made ships.
Perhaps more importantly, Republican officials in Washington need to sign a recovery funding agreement.
In the past, many people had little enthusiasm for renewable energy.
In recent months, the Trump administration has launched a series of initiatives aimed at improving the coal, nuclear, oil and gas industries.
In fact, Energy Minister Rick Perry suggested this week that the next generation of nuclear power plants could be the right solution for Puerto Rico, although it would actually take years for that solution to be completed.
"If we have a small modular reactor, you can put it in C-17 [military cargo]
Aircraft, ship it to an area like Puerto Rico, then push it out to the back end, start it up and plug it in?
According to Bloomberg BNA, he asked for a clean energy conference this week.
If Puerto Rico wants to restore power on the island as soon as possible in the coming months, nuclear power is not the fastest solution.
But whatever the island does, it may need the support of Republicans to help pay.