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Genera PR announced Tuesday via social media that it made the first payment to start the construction of new and efficient peaker units to replace obsolete and expensive equipment.
Puerto Rico’s power generation received a significant boost as Genera PR, the private operator of the island’s legacy power plants, announced in October the award of a tender to two firms for the supply of peaking units aimed at supporting the island’s shaky electrical grid. The awarded companies, Wärtsilä North America Inc. and Siemens Energy Inc., will be involved in providing critical peaking units designed to run on both gas and diesel, offering much-needed flexibility to meet the island’s energy demands during critical times.
Wärtsilä has been assigned the task of supplying eight reciprocating combustion engines that will be distributed across four vital facilities throughout Puerto Rico. Siemens Energy, meanwhile, will be responsible for installing two combustion turbines at the Costa Sur plant in Guayanilla. The Financial Oversight and Management Board and the Public-Private Partnerships Authority must grant their approval before a formal contract is signed between Genera PR and the two firms.
Iván Báez, vice president of corporate affairs at Genera PR, at the time emphasized the importance of this project, referring to it as a “fundamental step toward the modernization of Puerto Rico’s electrical system.” The integration of the units is expected to bolster the grid’s stability and responsiveness, aiding in addressing both energy demands and unexpected system events. Additionally, replacing old units with the new peaker units is estimated to result in substantial savings in fuel costs as they will primarily operate on natural gas as opposed to the current diesel-powered units.
The project marks a significant investment in Puerto Rico’s energy infrastructure and aims to enhance the system’s long-term reliability. In preparation for the installation of the new units, Genera PR has initiated the permitting process for land preparation. Puerto Rico’s energy transformation plans encompass the replacement of critical components of existing infrastructure, the acquisition of power backup units, and the installation of battery storage systems to improve the overall reliability of the island’s energy service.
