The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, promoted solar energy generation and storage facilities that are an example of the potential of sustainable sources to help meet the needs of the Caribbean island.
The Puerto Rican executive reported in a statement that the facilities include 200 kilowatts of solar power generation and 500 kilowatts of storage.
The statement details that this facility supplies the necessary energy to operate the Children’s Hospital in Guaynabo, a municipality neighboring San Juan.
This new system will generate enough solar energy to power the hospital during the day and store up to 500 kilowatts of energy as backup to use when needed.
The first executive said that this type of installation “could be a model to follow for public or private entities that offer critical services to citizens.”
Manuel Laboy, secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Trade (DDEC), said: “This new system converts most of the energy produced and consumed in the place into renewable energy, in addition to reducing the amount of fuel which is used daily, while minimizing dependence on it.
“On the other hand, it reduces the need for emergency generators as the only source of energy for prolonged periods, which extends the life of the equipment,” said Laboy.
The executive director of the Pro Child Hospital Society, María López, said that “this action by the Tesla company has enormous implications on the operation of the institution.”
“Our mission is to contribute to the rehabilitation of children with physical and mental disabilities, and at the moment we have a permanent population, many of whom suffer from severe chronic conditions that require specialized treatment and can not be administered without electricity” , added Lopez.
The Pro Child Hospital Society is a non-profit organization that has provided health care to Puerto Rican children for 93 years.
It is the only pediatric health home on the island that provides extended stay and convalescent services to patients 0-21 years of age and currently serves more than 3,000 children in outpatient therapy services.
In the hospital, there are 35 children who suffer from physical and mental disabilities, chronic and severe, with limited financial resources and who are generally referred by the Department of the Family.
Staff provides medical care, physical therapy, occupational and speech therapy, psychology, special education, social work, and 24-hour nursing service.
