The state of solar in Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico Can Reach Its 100% Renewable Energy Goal by 2050

NREL Led PR100 Study That Modeled Possible Scenarios Built on Stakeholder Priorities of Energy Affordability, Resilience and Reliability, Land Use, and Economic Benefits

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Puerto Rico Quick Facts?

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• Puerto Rico consumes almost 70 times more energy than it produces, and the Commonwealth's energy consumption per capita is roughly one-fourth of the average in the 50 U.S. states.

• Fossil fuels generate 94% of Puerto Rico's electricity, contributing to the island having a higher average electricity price than any U.S. state, except for Hawaii.

• Petroleum products account for about three-fifths of Puerto Rico's total energy consumption. However, the island's per capita petroleum consumption is about half the U.S. average.

• In 2022, petroleum-fired power plants provided 63% of Puerto Rico's electricity generating capacity, followed by natural gas with 23%, coal 8%, and renewables 6%.

• About 16% of Puerto Rico's electricity is generated by coal. However, the island plans to phase out its coal-fired generation by 2028. PREPA is planning to obtain 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050.

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What are the advantages of going solar in Puerto Rico?

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The use of solar power is on the rise in the Caribbean as a way to lower energy consumption costs and increase resiliency against severe storms. The Caribbean's tropical climate, sunny weather, and proximity to the equator lead to long days of high-intensity sunlight.

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While the utility-scale market has gained some traction over the past few years, the distributed segment will largely drive solar growth in Puerto Rico. We forecast that more than 5-GW of solar capacity will be installed in Puerto Rico over the next 5 years. Yet, only 440 MW will come from the utility-scale segment. Low investment in transmission infrastructure, slow permitting processes, challenged site availability, and limited grid resiliency limit the expected growth of the utility-scale segment. 

The distributed generation segment, conversely, is in a much brighter place, as there are tools and incentives to drive installations on the island. From a policy standpoint, Laws 17, 57, and 114 of 2014 govern and protect distributed generation in Puerto Rico. These policies allow behind-the-meter (BTM) renewable projects up to 1 MW to be connected to the grid, establish a net metering mechanism, and regulate interconnection tariffs and time frames.

The local utility, LUMA, has a robust net metering program, allowing all clients to submit an interconnection request online. By law, any requests must be finalized in 30 business days, a very competitive time frame compared to many areas in the US. Moreover, strong federal incentives will continue to enable DG installations, with up to $1 billion  destined to increase residential solar + storage installations by companies like EcoFlux, Freedom forever , Sunrun, Everbright , Aurora Palmetto and Sunnova and nonprofits like Let’s Share the Sun.  

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Solar power in Puerto Rico

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Hurricane Maria in 2017 severely damaged Puerto Rico’s outdated power infrastructure. It took several months for more than 3 million residents of the island to have power back on. Due to the persistent energy crisis, many Puerto Rican residents have embraced solar energy. Rooftop solar panels and solar batteries helped residents keep their lights on in Puerto Rico during Hurricanes Fiona and Ian in 2022.

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In 2022, solar power comprised 5.5% of the total residential energy demand in Puerto Rico, with an installed residential solar capacity of around 225 megawatts. The Biden administration recently announced the U.S. would award up to $440 million for rooftop solar energy in Puerto Rico, which will further stimulate the growth of residential solar panel and battery installations across the island.

Installing residential solar panels in Puerto Rico offers financial savings, environmental benefits, and greater energy independence. Read on to learn more about going solar in Puerto Rico, including the estimated costs, benefits, and incentives.

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How much does solar cost in Puerto Rico?

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The cost of solar panels in Puerto Rico varies based on factors like system size, types of panels, components, roof condition and orientation, and local labor and permitting costs. Accurate solar cost data for all of Puerto Rico is not easily accessible. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the average price per watt for solar panels in the U.S. is $3.67, with an average system size of 8.6 kilowatts (kW) and a total price of $31,558.

Each solar system is customizable, and total installation costs will vary depending on your chosen system size. Some homes require a larger system to cover their energy usage, while others will benefit from a small solar system. Your solar installer can help you determine the right system size for your household’s needs. The following table highlights a range of prices for system sizes priced at the U.S. average price per watt of $3.69.

System size Total cost Number of
solar panels*

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5 kW$18,35013–17

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7 kW$25,69018–23

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9 kW$33,03023–30

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11 kW$40,37028–37

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13 kW$47,71033–43

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What’s the best way to go solar in Puerto Rico?

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Include EcoFlux, Sunrun, Palmetto and Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that's changing.

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• Equipment 9.3 / 10

• Warranty 9 / 10

• Service 9 / 10

Start Savings Estimate

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Production guarantee

• Price match guarantee

• Cash escrow option

Cons

• Customer service concerns

• Some warranties are longer elsewhere

Areas served

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Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., Wisconsin,

Product details

Freedom Forever, one of the largest American solar installers, installs some of the most popular residential equipment. It offers a production guarantee and an uncommon cash escrow option is a welcome step toward a less stressful process.

 The company says things have turned around after a bad stretch, but it’s worth monitoring.

Get started now by requesting your home solar consultation below. We’ll follow up with a quick call to schedule a time. You can also call us directly at (978) 259 5006.