DEPCOM Power recently began constructing Puerto Rico’s largest solar and battery energy storage system. Ciro One is a 90-MW solar and 51.5-MW storage project developed by Ciro Energy Group. Local subcontractor Lord Construction is assisting DEPCOM with the project.
Credit: Lord Construction Group
The project in Salinas is expected to begin operation at the end of 2024.
“Isolated from typical supply lines, Puerto Rico needs solutions that reduce electricity costs, improve grid reliability, and accelerate renewable energy deployment,” says DEPCOM Director of Energy Storage Nadja Gocek. “Our mutually beneficial cooperation with local Puerto Rico experts balances long-term reliability and performance with land optimization to create a uniquely symbiotic solution that the community needs.”
The battery portion will feature lithium-titanate oxide (LTO) technology that is warranted to 25 years. The GameChange fixed-tilt system is positioned in an east/west row orientation, and the inverters will have salt fog filters to mitigate the effects of salinity on the system’s power electronics.
Because of the island’s size and limited available land, solar systems that blend energy production with agricultural needs are preferred. As a pilot site for agrivoltaics, Ciro One will use one of the PV arrays for demonstration and scalability for future implementation, and use sheep to manage vegetation.
“This project will strengthen our island’s energy network at a scale that gets us closer to meeting our renewable goals,” says Ciro Energy Group President Mario Tomasini. “At the same time, we are maximizing the site’s potential through a multi-use approach, integrating vital agriculture with solar power generation.”
News item from DEPCOM
