Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Wind Energy Costs in Puerto Rico Through 2035

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1891213· OSTI ID:1891213
In 2019, Puerto Rico codified into law a 100% renewable electricity by 2050 target. Decision makers there need information about the costs and performance of wind energy technologies to incorporate into planning efforts for the future grid. After consulting with key technical stakeholders and accounting for unique conditions in Puerto Rico like increased hurricane risks, we customize NREL's Renewable Energy Potential model to calculate how capital expenditures, operational expenditures, net annual energy generation, and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) vary in time and space for wind energy projects around Puerto Rico. Wind turbines can add value by providing grid services through grid-forming inverters and complement solar energy generation with evening and nighttime electricity production, especially offshore. By 2035, we expect average costs of land-based and offshore wind energy in Puerto Rico to reach $$\$$$$69/MWh (6.9 cents/kWh) and $$\$$$$100/MWh (10 cents/kWh), respectively. While these projections do not include transmission system upgrade costs, they do suggest that low-cost, clean electricity is possible for Puerto Rico.
Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Wind Energy Technologies Office; US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1891213
Report Number(s):
NREL/TP-5000-83434; MainId:84207; UUID:f3009802-8c26-42cc-b066-5ee09c742bba; MainAdminID:67649
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English