Exclusive: Summary of the first renewable energy and storage tender in Puerto Rico

The first phase of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for renewable energy and storage projects in Puerto Rico is in its final stages after months of postponement since the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) launched it in 2021.

"Currently, the Tranche 1 projects comprise nine generation projects with over 700 MW of solar energy and five battery storage projects with over 350 MW of four-hour battery storage," stated Francisco Berríos Portela , Assistant Secretary of the Governor's Office for Energy Affairs and President of the PREPA Governing Board. Specifically, these figures represent 435 MW of four-hour equivalent storage and 603.7 MW of solar capacity awarded in the Tranche 1 RFP.

In addition, two solar projects prior to the launch of the RFPs are added to the total, which would add between 120 MW and 200 MW.

Below is the name and capacity of each: Photovoltaic Solar Projects RFP Tranche 1

• Clean Flexible or AES Solar Salinas (120 MW)
• Clean Flexible or AES Solar Jobs (80 MW)
• Coamo Solar by Convergent (100 MW)
• Pattern Barceloneta by Pattern Energy (70 MW)
• Ciro Two Salinas from Ciro Group and Putnam Bridge (68 MW)
• Guayama Solar by Ciro Group and Putnam Bridge (50 MW)
• Tetris Power Arecibo by Interenergy and Yarotek (45 MW)
• Yabucoa Solar by Sonnedix Infinigen Arclight (32.1 MW)
• Go Green USA America Corp (38.7 MW)

• Clean Flexible or AES BESS salt mines (110 MW)
• Clean Flexible or AES BESS Jobs (175 MW)
• Convergent ESSA Peñuelas (100 MW)
• Convergent ESSA Caguas (25 MW)
• Convergent ESSA Ponce (25 MW)

• Ciro One - 90 MW expandable to 140 MW
• Xerta Tech - 30 MW expandable to 60 MW

This was confirmed by Francisco Berríos Portela, who stated: "Although the contracts have been completed, at the moment we are working on amendments to the contracts to make them eligible for preferential financing from the DOE's Loan Program Office."

According to Berríos Portela , financing through the DOE will not only make the development of the projects viable but will also impact the reduction of their costs and, at the same time, reductions in the contracted rates.

In this way, several projects are expected to complete financial closing very soon and begin construction before the end of the year.

In fact, as the president of the PREPA Governing Board anticipated, "the permits for the construction of the projects are very advanced and several projects have already completed the procedures. Following calls for renewables: The Integrated Resource Plan and Modified Action Plan outlined the need to issue a series of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) or similar mechanisms, with the intention of ensuring the sustainable development of the electric power system in Puerto Rico."

Currently, in addition to RFP tranche 1, tranche 2 and tranche 3 are running in parallel.

In this regard, Francisco Berríos Portela , assistant secretary of the Governor's Office for Energy Affairs and president of the PREPA Governing Board, reported: "Regarding tranche 2, the AEE Board accepted the report that came from the Selection Committee, now the Energy Bureau is evaluating it.

The process has not yet been completed.

Meanwhile, tranche 3 is still in the Selection Committee.

In this regard, it is important to note that although, in addition to the first three sections mentioned, the launch of three other calls for proposals was planned, the situation could change in this second half of the year since a new Integrated Resource Plan is being developed that would include a renewed Action Plan for Puerto Rican energy policy for the coming years.