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Can Tesla's Batteries Power Puerto Rico? (electrek.co)
An anonymous reader quotes Electrek:
Almost 1 million ratepayers of the Puerto Rican Electric Power Authority on the island of Puerto Rico were reportedly without power Wednesday during an island-wide blackout. But a few hundred locations with Tesla Energy storage systems were able to keep the lights on, according to CEO Elon Musk... Some of those locations include very critical services. For example, Tesla deployed a series of Powerpack systems on the Puerto Rican islands of Vieques and Culebra for a sanitary sewer treatment plant, the Arcadia water pumping station, the Ciudad Dorada elderly community, the Susan Centeno hospital, and the Boys and Girls Club of Vieques. Furthermore, the automaker's energy division also deployed a solar+battery system at a hospital in Puerto Rico...
It was also reported that the Puerto Rican government was considering Tesla's plan for a series of microgrids to help bring back power on a larger scale. The government has confirmed that they "presented several projects in remote areas that would allow entire communities to be more independent" and they also "presented a proposal to the Authority for Public-Private Partnerships for the deployment of a large-scale battery system designed to help stabilize the entire Puerto Rico electricity network."
The proposal, involving de-centralized local solar farms, "should prove more resilient to natural disaster," Electrek reported earlier, adding " and of course, it would be a lot cleaner than their currently mostly fossil fuel-based power generation." Already Tesla batteries are "live and delivering power" at 662 locations, Elon Musk tweeted Wednesday.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that one Puerto Rico resident spent three weeks building his own solar power system using $7,500 in parts -- which will ultimately prove cheaper than the $350 a month he was spending to run a gas generator (and waiting as long as six hours in the long gas lines).
They're not revealing his name "because he's concerned someone may try to steal his new system."
It was also reported that the Puerto Rican government was considering Tesla's plan for a series of microgrids to help bring back power on a larger scale. The government has confirmed that they "presented several projects in remote areas that would allow entire communities to be more independent" and they also "presented a proposal to the Authority for Public-Private Partnerships for the deployment of a large-scale battery system designed to help stabilize the entire Puerto Rico electricity network."
The proposal, involving de-centralized local solar farms, "should prove more resilient to natural disaster," Electrek reported earlier, adding " and of course, it would be a lot cleaner than their currently mostly fossil fuel-based power generation." Already Tesla batteries are "live and delivering power" at 662 locations, Elon Musk tweeted Wednesday.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that one Puerto Rico resident spent three weeks building his own solar power system using $7,500 in parts -- which will ultimately prove cheaper than the $350 a month he was spending to run a gas generator (and waiting as long as six hours in the long gas lines).
They're not revealing his name "because he's concerned someone may try to steal his new system."
This makes zero sense. The government of Puerto Rico is looking for a solution to the power problem, so they are looking after themselves.
Besides, I'm pretty sure that they have learned that they cannot expect anything good from mainland USA a long time ago.
I've been off-grid for a few years now... A $5000(~1800W panels are now half the cost) system. Meets my power needs except for being in Canukistan, my heat. I have fridge/freezer/40" tv, computer/router/security system(24/7), lights,washer, microwave, electric pressure cooker, window AC unit, power tools, yada yada..
It meets the basic needs, only.. I have a really crappy battery; $1500 for a new one(only get flooded, leadacid industrial 2500+-cycle life; by far best bang for buck)... But it's been fine for years, why? because of a change in attitude about using power.
I can run my basics for 4-5 days off the battery and overcast alone(2KWh/day avg). But heres what I do.. When I want to use an electric chainsaw or other heavy tool, what do I do? I wait for the sun to come out! Nothing needs to be done immediately. For virtually everyone with their own roof/unobstructed sun, we could be off-grid now, solar now.. It's the regulations and forced 'technical workers and inspectors required in most states that drive the cost of solar through the roof.
As usual, the government makes everything worse.