LUMA completes grid upgrades to integrate 32-MW solar project in Yabucoa
By THE STAR STAFF
LUMA Energy announced Tuesday that it has completed key infrastructure and technical coordination work needed to connect a new 32-megawatt (MW) solar generation facility being developed by YFN Infinigen in Yabucoa, marking another step toward increasing renewable energy generation on the island.
According to LUMA, the private operator of the island’s electric power transmission and distribution system, the project will help diversify Puerto Rico’s generation portfolio and support efforts to strengthen the reliability and stability of the grid.
The utility consortium said the work included upgrades at the Juan Martín substation in Yabucoa, expansion of the 115-kilovolt (kV) bus, and the installation of new protection, automation, control and metering equipment. The improvements will allow the solar facility’s output to be safely integrated and monitored while providing the infrastructure necessary to accommodate additional generation resources in the future.
In addition to building the interconnection point, LUMA conducted the engineering assessments and technical and operational coordination required to bring the facility online. The comapany also energized a new 115-kV transmission line that will connect the solar plant to the island’s power grid.
“Every project that adds new sources of generation represents an important step forward for Puerto Rico,” Esther Serra, LUMA’s senior director of renewable energy projects, said in a statement. “We continue working to ensure the electrical grid has the infrastructure and technical capacity needed to receive this energy safely and reliably. These efforts are fundamental to supporting energy diversification and advancing a more stable electrical system for our customers.”
The solar facility is expected to begin commercial operations in the coming months. A battery energy storage system, or BESS, is also slated to be connected at the same substation. The storage system is designed to support grid frequency and voltage stability and help meet demand during peak consumption periods.
Once operational, the new generation source is expected to reduce Puerto Rico’s reliance on conventional fuels and support efforts to address generation shortfalls that have periodically resulted in load-shedding events across the island.
LUMA said its participation in the project reflects its ongoing commitment to modernizing Puerto Rico’s transmission and distribution infrastructure, facilitating the integration of new generation projects, and helping develop a more resilient and reliable electrical system.
