By The Star Staff
The Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña, in collaboration with Green Power Technologies Puerto Rico, has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as one of the 10 prize winners of the second phase of the Solutions for Lasting, Viable Energy Infrastructure Technologies (SOLVE IT) prize.
The award includes a $150,000 prize, which will be used to advance the development of hydroelectric microgrids for rural communities in Puerto Rico.
The SOLVE IT award aims to empower communities to identify and implement clean energy solutions that respond to their specific needs. During the second phase, the Puerto Rico Hydro Microgrid Partners team worked in collaboration with community leaders and strategic partners to develop an innovative plan focused on strengthening energy resilience in low-income rural communities.
The project presented by the team focuses on the implementation of modular hydroelectric microgrids that diversify the available energy sources, thus ensuring a reliable supply even in emergency situations.
“Hydroelectric power has a historic and critical role in Puerto Rico, serving as the original source of electricity, especially in the mountains,” said Sam Talman, director of energy services at Green Power Technologies Puerto Rico. “With our innovative distributed and scalable turbine technology, and with the support of the DOE, we can continue to take advantage of the natural resources in Puerto Rico to provide resilient, cost-effective, and clean energy to our communities.”
“These microgrids will not only reduce electricity costs, but also reduce electricity costs as well as foster economic development in the communities served with this solution,” Talman added. “This solution can serve as a model for other regions of Puerto Rico and the United States. We are proud to be part of the continuation of the history of hydroelectricity in Puerto Rico.”
Ana María Ruiz Montero, Renewable Energy Program manager at Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña, said the SOLVE IT award “represents a significant advance for energy resilience in our rural communities.”
“We are pleased to demonstrate how hydroelectric energy, combined with community work, can offer concrete solutions that improves quality of life, strengthens energy independence and generates economic development in the most vulnerable regions of Puerto Rico,” she said.
The Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña and Green Power Technologies Puerto Rico will now advance to Phase 3 of the SOLVE IT award, where they will develop detailed plans and formalize strategic alliances to bring the project to its final implementation. In this next stage, the team will compete for one of the $500,000 jackpots, which will be awarded in July of this year.
The Phase 2 recognition, Ruiz Montero added, reinforces the Cooperativa Hidroeléctrica de la Montaña’s commitment to fulfill its mission to lead the transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy future, driving energy self-sufficiency and economic development in underserved communities.
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