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Puerto Rico could be energy-independent if the US government changed the energy policy that it dictates to the colony with no say of the inhabitants. It's opti

Puerto Rico could be energy-independent if the US government changed the energy policy that it dictates to the colony with no say of the inhabitants. It's optimaly located for a 100% solar-PV system (see South Australia for comparison). As it stands, it has to import a lot of fossil fuel: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/041322-feature-faraway-war-slows-puerto-ricos-refined-oil-product-imports-especially-from-russia-baltics https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insight...

prottog 3y ago
> It's optimaly located for a 100% solar-PV system (see South Australia for comparison) How does it compare to South Australia? SA reaches from 38-26 degrees of latitude, with empty scorching desert in the north (towards the equator) suitable for mass solar generation. Puerto Rich is just north of 18 degrees of latitude with a predominantly tropical climate, meaning lots of clouds and rain. San Juan, for example, gets just under 3000 hours of sunshine a year, which is similar to places like Memphis or Oklahoma City (vs. Las Vegas, for example, at 3800 hours).
nocoiner 3y ago
It also has enormous hydro power potential. The environmental ramifications would probably make this a non-starter though. Renewable energy ought to be a no-brainer for PR, though. I just wish the utility wasn’t stuck in a spot where it has to triage the basic delivery of electricity and a minimally functioning grid, and instead could focus on investing on rebuilding the overall generation and distribution system.
bigie35 3y ago
My family is from there (I was born there) and my parents just installed a solar roof and panels, I can't remember the metrics (sorry) but the house was consuming .5 of the energy and exporting over 3 to the grid. My parents have batteries as well for the solar power. Sorry not super helpful...

prottog 3y ago

> It's optimaly located for a 100% solar-PV system (see South Australia for comparison) How does it compare to South Australia? SA reaches from 38-26 degrees of latitude, with empty scorching desert in the north (towards the equator) suitable for mass solar generation. Puerto Rich is just north of 18 degrees of latitude with a predominantly tropical climate, meaning lots of clouds and rain. San Juan, for example, gets just under 3000 hours of sunshine a year, which is similar to places like Memphis or Oklahoma City (vs. Las Vegas, for example, at 3800 hours).

nocoiner 3y ago

It also has enormous hydro power potential. The environmental ramifications would probably make this a non-starter though. Renewable energy ought to be a no-brainer for PR, though. I just wish the utility wasn’t stuck in a spot where it has to triage the basic delivery of electricity and a minimally functioning grid, and instead could focus on investing on rebuilding the overall generation and distribution system.

bigie35 3y ago

My family is from there (I was born there) and my parents just installed a solar roof and panels, I can't remember the metrics (sorry) but the house was consuming .5 of the energy and exporting over 3 to the grid. My parents have batteries as well for the solar power. Sorry not super helpful...