Puerto Rico receives first shipment of modern power generation units

Josué Colón Ortiz, Puerto Rico’s energy czar and executive director of the Public-Private Partnerships Authority

By THE STAR STAFF

Josué Colón Ortiz, Puerto Rico’s energy czar and executive director of the Public-Private Partnerships Authority, has announced the arrival of the first shipment of state-of-the-art power generation units.

The new units, capable of operating on both natural gas and diesel, are expected to add some 150 megawatts to the island’s electricity supply.

Colón Ortiz, along with officials from the U.S. Department of Energy and representatives from Genera Puerto Rico -- including company President & CEO Winnie Irizarry and Vice President of Government Affairs Iván Báez -- oversaw the arrival of the turbines and supporting equipment at the Port of Ponce last Thursday.

The turbines, manufactured by General Electric Vernova, are LM2500-XPRESS Gas Turbine models. Each unit can produce up to 24.5 megawatts of electricity and can start operating within minutes, making them ideal as “peaker” units used during periods of high demand. The total investment in the six-generation systems is about $358 million, funded by federal resources secured by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón.

Additional components for the remaining four units, including generators, were also received. Colón Ortiz noted that the new systems are over 95% modular, allowing for rapid and efficient installation and seamless integration with existing generation and transmission infrastructure.

“These modern systems will enable the retirement of older, less efficient units, reducing production costs and improving the efficiency and capacity to meet peak energy demand and emergency situations,” Colón Ortiz said.

He added that the rest of the components for the remaining turbines are expected in the coming months.

Highlighting the significance of the project, Báez said the new “peaker” units “represent a key modernization of Puerto Rico’s generation fleet.”

“Their integration will replace inefficient equipment with more modern and efficient technology, strengthening the electrical system’s capacity to respond to demand spikes and unforeseen events.”

The six units will be installed in pairs at sites in Yabucoa, Guayama (Jobos), and Ceiba (Daguao), marking a crucial step in the transformation of the island’s electrical system, the officials said.