North American energy storage company Convergent Energy+Power has entered into a power purchase and operating agreement with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) for a 100 MW solar power project with 55 MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
The said project is planned to be located in Puerto Rico's Coamo town, and expected to come online in 2024. It will be owned and operated by Convergent's local subsidiary Convergent Coamo.
Convergent's CEO Johannes Rittershausen said it will work with its local partner Ashford Renewable along with PREPA to help the island deploy more solar energy.
Convergent calls this among the 1st large scale solar+storage systems awarded by PREPA for its multi-tranche plan to modernize the grid as the island aims to become 100% renewable energy powered by 2050. Interim goal for Puerto Rico is to achieve 40% renewable energy share by 2025.
Devastated by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017 that left the island surviving on 14% of electricity supply as almost 80% of its electricity infrastructure was damaged, Puerto Rico decided to adopt renewables to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. Renewables also provide it an opportunity to become energy independent and replace its aging electricity grid.
Back in February 2021, PREPA was soliciting proposals for 1 GW renewable energy and 500 MW energy storage capacity for Puerto Rico, as 1st of the 6 tranches it intends to issue to procure 3.75 GW renewable energy and 1.5 GW storage over 3 years (see Puerto Rico Launches 1.5 GW Renewables & Storage Tender).