DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) of up to $325 million for the Programa de Comunidades Resilientes, an initiative to improve community-level energy resilience for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations across Puerto Rico.
September 19, 2024
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supports grid recovery and resiliency efforts in Puerto Rico through planning assistance, operational activities, and capacity building for both local public entities and federal agencies, ensuring investment decisions are driven by world-class data, modeling, and analysis. In this newsletter, the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) shares the latest milestones, updates, and highlights of this work.
Program Highlights and Announcements
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $325 Million Funding Opportunity for Solar and Battery Storage for Community Healthcare Facilities and Multi-Family Housing
On August 28, 2024, DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) of up to $325 million for the Programa de Comunidades Resilientes, an initiative to improve community-level energy resilience for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations across Puerto Rico. This program, funded through the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund, will provide funding for solar and battery storage installations across two types of vital infrastructure: community healthcare facilities, as well as community centers and other common areas in public housing and privately owned subsidized multi-family properties.
Potential applicants include individual organizations or teams of organizations based in Puerto Rico that can coordinate the deployment of projects across many community healthcare facilities or public housing and subsidized multi-family properties (e.g., 100–150 sites) in partnership with local stakeholders. Interested organizations can access a Teaming Partner List on DOE’s Infrastructure eXCHANGE website. The Teaming Partner List facilitates the formation of project teams by allowing organizations that may wish to participate in a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.
Funding opportunity applications are due on October 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST.
Learn more about the Programa de Comunidades Resilientes and how to apply.
Secretary Granholm Celebrates First Programa Acceso Solar Installations in Loíza
In July, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm visited Puerto Rico to meet with energy stakeholders and community groups, marking her ninth visit to the island. On this visit, joined by Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez (D-NY7) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY14), Secretary Granholm celebrated one of the first installations of rooftop solar and battery storage under DOE’s Programa Acceso, funded by the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund. Applications are still open for this program. To check your eligibility and find your local Solar Ambassador to apply, visit energy.gov/solarPR or call 1 (833) 822-8628.
Learn more about the Programa Acceso Solar.
Loan Programs Office Announces Conditional Commitment to Build Utility-Scale Solar Generation and Storage in Puerto Rico
On July 18, 2024, DOE’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $861.3 million to Clean Flexible Energy, LLC. The loan guarantee will finance the construction of two solar photovoltaic (PV) farms equipped with battery storage and two standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Puerto Rico. The facilities will be located in the municipalities of Guayama and Salinas and will help deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power throughout Puerto Rico.
Project Marahu will play an integral role in improving Puerto Rico’s energy resilience and affordability while helping Puerto Rico meet its ambitious clean energy and climate goals. The project will support replacing retired fossil fuel power plants reliant on imported fuel, increase renewable energy generation, and enhance grid resilience.
Learn more about Project Marahu.
Other Announcements
Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña Celebrates Programa Acceso Solar Milestone
On August 1, 2024, the Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña celebrated two major milestones for the Programa Acceso Solar: the first residential solar and battery storage installation in Jayuya, as well as the Cooperativa’s successful collection of 750 applications to the Programa Acceso Solar. In February 2024, Secretary Granholm visited the home to meet with the family about their eligibility for this program. Six months later, they have a reliable rooftop solar system. The Cooperativa’s work as a Solar Ambassador is critical to assist DOE in helping eligible households in Adjuntas, Lares, Utuado, Maricao, and Jayuya in applying to this program.
Request for Proposals for Vieques and Culebra Microgrids Begin to Take Shape
In June, representatives from GDO’s Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team convened a community forum along with LUMA Energy in Culebra to discuss the energy resilience benefits of a microgrid project and collect stakeholder feedback. In 2021, DOE’s Sandia National Laboratories conducted a study providing a conceptual design for a microgrid to meet Culebra’s needs. Now with FEMA funding, the project will become a reality, boosting reliable energy service while helping achieve Puerto Rico’s renewable energy goals.
This month, LUMA opened a Request for Proposals (RFP) to design and build two integrated, island-based microgrid systems for Vieques and Culebra as part of 406 Hazard Mitigation measures.
The RFP submission deadline is November 7, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST.
Learn more about the RFP for the Vieques and Culebra microgrids here.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Releases Study Assessing the Solar Photovoltaic Potential in Puerto Rican Brownfields and Reservoirs
Puerto Rico’s commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050 will require finding new sites for energy projects. Reservoirs and brownfields—lands previously used for industrial and commercial purposes that may be contaminated—could represent untapped potential. In a new study, completed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), researchers identified up to 3.3 gigawatts of theoretical solar PV capacity across Puerto Rico’s waterbodies, closed landfills, Superfund sites, power plant footprints, and other contaminated areas. This work builds on the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100), released by DOE, FEMA, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) earlier this year.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Wins Award for Emergency Management Tool
This year’s 2024 R&D 100 Award winners, selected by R&D World, included the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Electrical Grid Resilience and Assessment System (EGRASS). EGRASS is a software package that has advanced the ability of emergency managers and power planners to anticipate and prepare for storm impacts. EGRASS, which is cloud based and publicly accessible, simulates historical storm paths and other natural hazard events, helping energy managers plan for flooding, landslides and other storm-related damage. It has played a vital role in helping Puerto Rican emergency personnel plan for severe weather events, including most recently for Tropical Storm Ernesto.
EGRASS won this worldwide science and innovation competition in the software/services category, with a gold medal as special recognition in corporate social responsibility.
Learn more about PNNL’s R&D 100 Award.