Five weeks after Hurricane Maria struck, the Caribbean Island is still almost entirely without electricity. Its 3.4 million residents face the massive task of reinstating 62,000 utility poles supporting 2,000 miles of transmission lines. Because the system was already in trouble before the storm. The average age of power plants is 44 years, and the entire network needs a rethink. In the interim, batteries are returning power to Puerto Rico in innovative ways.
An Opportunity to Reconsider Electricity Distribution
To date, we have pretty much been using renewable energy as band-aid on legacy systems. There has however been talk of introducing more micro renewable ones, although utilities have largely adopted a conservative approach.
Now, with virtually everything effectively gone, or needing renewal, there is an opportunity to start afresh on Puerto Rico island. Therefore, decentralized power generation, and local grid energy storage should become more prominent. Had they been in place when Hurricane Maria struck, parts of Puerto Rico might already have electricity again.
How Batteries are Returning Power to Puerto Rico
Initial steps are focusing on essential services like children’s hospitals, and schools in remote areas. Companies like Tesla, Sonnen, and Sunrun are shipping in solar panels.And some of the world’s biggest batteries to support the effort.
These will eventually connect to a reinstated national grid, and recover their capital cost by selling surplus power. However, they will remain islands of hope, and beacons of light when another storm threatens.
Batteries are returning power to the Caribbean island, and thereby proving how effective they are in disaster recovery. But there is more to this story. Because we are proving micro grids are a more sustainable way of countering the effects of global warming too.
We wish the residents of Puerto Rico success going forward. You are a strong, resilient nation. We are confident you will find your way through.
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Preview Image: Puerto Rico Transmission Lines
