Comunicados de Prensa

The Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, along with the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy, Jennifer Granholm; the Secretary of the Department of Housing (DV), William Rodríguez Rodríguez; and the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Health Services Administration (ASEM), Jorge Matta González, announced the signing of an agreement that will allow for the construction of an electric microgrid for Puerto Rico's first medical facility, Centro Médico, which becomes the first project of the Energy Reliability and Resilience Program (ER-2).

The agreement between Housing and ASEM establishes the allocation of $1.3 million for project management. The main objective of the ER-2 program is to provide assistance to subrecipients to create greater reliability and resilience of the electric system and equitable access to electricity across the island. Under the federal Department of Housing's CDBG-DR program, a $1.3 billion allocation is included as part of the Action Plan for Electric Grid Optimization.

“As we have announced, the first project of the ER-2 program will be the microgrid for the Puerto Rico Medical Center. This is a critical facility, particularly in times of emergency, which is why we have prioritized this project, which will help us avoid power shortages and thus be able to provide medical services without interruption to our people. This is the first of multiple microgrids that will be developed with these funds, throughout the island,” the governor stated.

In addition, the chief executive added that “the energy demand of the Medical Center complex is estimated at approximately 40 megawatts. To meet this demand, a project will be built that maximizes the available space for the use of solar panels on the roofs and in the parking lots, combined with high-capacity battery systems, efficient generation, and advanced control systems.”

The microgrid will help improve the reliability of the Medical Center's energy systems, which were severely impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. It will also help reduce energy costs at the Trauma Center and Emergency Department, the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, the Cardiovascular Hospital, the Industrial Hospital, the Oncology Hospital, the University Hospital, the Pediatric Hospital, the Psychiatric Hospital, and the Forensic Psychiatry Hospital, as well as the San Juan Municipal Hospital, the Comprehensive Cancer Center and its Research Center, several Department of Health facilities, and the Institute of Forensic Sciences.

For its part, the U.S. Department of Energy and its national laboratories will provide technical assistance and expertise to the ER-2 program and all related initiatives, including the bidding processes and implementation of the Medical Center's microgrids.

“This project will include the latest solar panel and battery technologies, on rooftops and parking lots, that will build resilience by maximizing renewable energy. I am excited to be part of this announcement today about the high-tech microgrid that the U.S. Department of Housing and the Government of Puerto Rico are developing, with the support of the Department of Energy. We will ensure that lifesaving equipment and operating rooms continue to function, despite any atmospheric events Mother Nature may bring. We look forward to seeing the evolution of this Medical Center project and will continue developing these initiatives throughout Puerto Rico,” explained DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

The Department of Housing is working closely with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau to ensure the viability of the microgrid.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Housing commented that “the recovery process we are leading from our agency has various ramifications. Today, we are pleased to sign this agreement to make this microgrid viable, which will undoubtedly benefit the entire population receiving medical services at this important center. We will continue to expeditiously channel the work so that every cent of the funds allocated for Puerto Rico's recovery is used correctly, for the benefit of our people.”

Likewise, Rodríguez Rodríguez announced that the bidding process will be published in the media and on the website cdbg-dr.pr.gov on February 10.

The bidding process will focus on seeking qualified companies with experience in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of microgrids, electric cogeneration projects, or other comparable projects. Each bidding company will present the solution or combination of solutions it deems appropriate to meet the needs of the campus.

ASEM will own the microgrid and all related assets; As such, he or she will participate in the design and construction process and oversee the operation and maintenance activities of the microgrid throughout the life of the project, including the provision of electrical service to microgrid participants within the campus.

ASEM Executive Director Jorge Matta González highlighted the importance of building an electrical microgrid for the Medical Center and how it will ensure the continuity of services for the patients treated there. He also expressed his gratitude for the speed with which this project has been completed and acknowledged that this effort will have a significant impact on the hospital complex.

“Having the microgrid will be of great benefit because it will allow us to have a stronger and more reliable central energy system thanks to the redundancy it will offer. It will be a giant step in the transition to strengthen energy use in our facilities,” stated Matta González.

The governor reiterated his commitment to continuing to develop these projects to ensure energy security. “With the funds allocated to ER-2, we will promote greater integration of renewable energy into the system, encourage distributed generation around our communities, and provide more reliable electrical service to critical facilities, such as hospitals, shelters, senior centers, police stations, and fire stations,” concluded Pierluisi.