North American Windpower: Puerto Rico's First Commercial-Scale Wind Project Enters Operation

Puerto Rico's First Commercial-Scale Wind Project Enters Operation

in News Departments > Projects & Contracts

by NAW Staff on Monday 29 October 2012

Pattern Energy's 95 MW Finca de Viento Santa Isabel wind project has officially entered operation in Puerto Rico.

The project, which comprises 44 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines, is Puerto Rico's first commercial-scale wind farm and the largest wind project in the Caribbean, according to Pattern Energy.

The project was originally slated to produce 75 MW, but thanks to a recent agreement between Pattern Energy and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), the wind farm will now produce 95 MW, Pattern says.

"Without having to erect a single additional turbine, this facility now injects another 20 MW - or an additional 15 percent - of clean energy into Puerto Rico's power grid," says Hunter Armistead, executive director of Pattern Energy. "Through collaboration with PREPA, we were able to increase the power generation capacity, helping the island get closer to its clean energy goals and enhancing the benefits this project will provide for the generations of Puerto Ricans to come."

Puerto Rico has goals of reaching 12% renewables by 2015, 15% by 2020 and 20% by 2035. There are currently over 220 MW of renewable energy projects in operation and under construction in several areas of the island.

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