Reimagining Puerto Rico: The Mini Gird Transformation

PREPA has developed a power system transformation plan calling for separating the territory into 8 autonomous mini-grids that would operate independently in the event of a major catastrophe. Loads within each mini-grid are categorized into critical, priority, and general. Critical loads are served with microgrids within the mini-grids. Each mini-grid will have generation within the grid to continuously power critical and priority loads. The plan calls for closing over 3 GW of fossil oil-fired units and replacing them with 2 GW of solar, 1 GW of BESS, and 1GW of gas turbines fueled by LNG. The PREPA plan is the first in the industry to co-optimize renewables and resilience. This session will cover the core elements of the plan, the underlying thought process, other approaches under consideration in California and how this applies to the coastal and island areas in Asia.