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Beach Resort’s CHP System Proves Its Worth During Hurricane

By District Energy posted 04-19-2023 08:12

  

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Summary

In 2017, Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico’s electrical grid, requiring island residents to go without power for more than 100 days in what was the largest and longest blackout in U.S. history.

Today, Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure remains patchy, having never fully recovered from the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane. Blackouts and brownouts are common even in mild weather, which is why many property owners are seeking secondary power sources to minimize disruptions.

“An outdated grid infrastructure and inconsistencies with power production have been a hot topic of discussion for a long time, particularly when you look at industrial manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico but also resorts where livelihoods depend on attracting and keeping clientele,” says Jessie Howell, business development manager at 2G Energy.

2G Energy’s most recent project is an installation at Rincon Beach Resort in Anasco, on the island’s west coast. At this secluded resort, a propane CHP system can operate independent of the grid to meet the heat and power demand of the property’s 112 rooms and 24 condos, as it proved in September of last year. That’s when Hurricane Fiona made landfall, causing widespread flash flooding. The island’s fragile electrical infrastructure—still recovering from Hurricane Maria five years prior— suffered significant damage. Nearly 850,000 power company customers—that’s more than half of the island’s businesses and households—were without electricity. Throughout it all, Rincon Beach Resort was able to keep its lights on.

“The 2G propane CHP system allowed us to continue operations through the storm while the majority of facilities struggled to remain online,” says Eduardo Somoza, the resort’s owner.

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