US$450 million allocated by US govt to install rooftop solar PV for Puerto Rico residents

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Up to 40,000 rooftop solar PV and battery storage systems will be installed. Credit: Justin Lim via Unsplash

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced US$453.5 million from the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund to install up to 40,000 rooftop solar PV and battery storage systems for low-income single-family households.

Eligible households include those who either live in areas that have a high percentage of very low-income households and experience frequent and prolonged power outages, or are with a family member with an energy-dependent disability.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Energy cooperatives and state and local governmental entities could apply for the fund. This round of funding will provide consumer protection and education initiatives to support residents’ long-term use of solar systems.

“DOE is using every tool at our disposal to expand access to clean energy, especially for the communities most at risk, giving families the peace of mind knowing that their communities are resilient in the face of the climate crisis,” said US secretary of energy Jennifer Granholm.

The deadline for the application will be on 18 September 2023. Additionally, the second round of funding for the Puerto Rico energy resilience fund will be announced at a later date.

US president Joe Biden signed the Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act into law in December 2022, which included US$1 billion to establish the Puerto Rico energy resilience fund to enhance energy resilience for Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable households and communities and help it meet its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Separately, residential solar and storage provider Sunrun has begun enrolling customers in Puerto Rico into the island’s Battery Emergency Demand Response programme, which is expected to begin later this year. Sunrun is looking to enrol 7,000 customers this year, for a programme which will see energy dispatched to the grid for periods of up to two hours, for an anticipated 75 to 125 events per year. Fellow residential solar company Sunnova has followed suit in starting enrolments.

Read Next

July 19, 2024
The Energy Storage for Resilient Homes Act would allow residents of the two states to use funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to purchase residential BESS.
July 19, 2024
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a loan of up to US$861.3 million to support 200MW of solar PV and 285MW/1,140MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Puerto Rico.
July 18, 2024
US energy technology company Generac has been awarded a US$200 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to deploy residential solar PV and energy storage systems in Puerto Rico.
June 25, 2024
New modelling shows that electrification and flexibility can slash average day-ahead energy prices by 25% by 2030, and by 33% by 2040.
Premium
June 10, 2024
Grid bottlenecks have emerged as a significant obstacle standing in the way of the energy transition in the US.
April 26, 2024
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a report on laser welding, which could make solar panels easier to recycle.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 8, 2024
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
October 15, 2024
Santiago, Chile
Solar Media Events
October 22, 2024
New York, USA