Policy - 15/May/2018

Puerto Rico struggles back from the brink

Hurricanes wiped out Puerto Rico’s power grid, creating an opportunity to rebuild with cleaner modern technologies. But financial and institutional barriers stand in the way.

The two massive hurricanes that decimated Puerto Rico in the autumn of 2017 managed something that was unthinkable in the developed world, knocking out power to millions of people for months on end. The ongoing lack of electricity has crippled the economy, contributing to a mass exodus from the island and a sharp increase in suicides. In terms of energy, the disaster may spur fundamental change with solar and storage taking the place of antiquated oil generators as the basis for a rebuilt Puerto Rican power system. But ongoing political and financial chaos, combined with a recalcitrant utility, make any outcome uncertain. ...

Try FORESIGHT - 30 days for €29

Already a subscriber?

Login



Comments are closed.

Related articles

Bornholm, a Danish island due south of Sweden in the Baltic Sea, is making itself into a “Bright Green Island” by pursuing a goal of carbon neutrality by 2025. To get there, Bornholm has become a laboratory for new technologies and strategies to cut emissions.

Bornholm Island a test bed for new energy technologies

Denmark's "sunshine island" is taking its efforts to become carbon neutral beyond wind energy. Experiments with solar technologies are directed towards achieving heating, cooling and electricity generation from a single source of clean energy.

Read more

Hawaii bets on solar power

Hawaii bets on solar power

Battered by years of high energy prices due to heavy dependence on imported oil, Hawaii has been moving aggressively to take advantage of the declining cost of renewables.

Read more

EcoGrid 2.0 will increase demand response through heat pumps

Heating and heat pumps help balance the grid

Research demonstrates that demand management can create value for private customers and the power system

Read more

Blockchain literally links, or chains together, blocks of data, such as information regarding a specific power generator and a specific consumer.

New kid on the block

Blockchain is regularly touted in the media as a tool to revolutionise business, but the jury is still out on whether it can help speed up the transition to renewables

Read more

Americans say they lack the consensus for the change seen in Europe

Utilities and distributed generation

Americans say they lack the consensus for the change seen in Europe

Read more