Monday, June 25

Breakfast/Registration 8:00 - 9:30

First Session Begins at 9:30AM

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Ramping up Renewable Energy

Solar currently makes up less than 2% of Puerto Rico's energy mix, yet Puerto Rico’s Renewable Portfolio Standard requires that renewable energy make up at least 12% today, and at least 20% by 2035. PREPA's new fiscal plan requires 27% solar by 2023, which could amount to over $3 billion of new solar development in 5 years. 

• What kind of steps are necessary to make this rapid transition to solar possible? 

• Should this generation come primarily from utility scale or distributed generation, or both?

Will the utility be ready for this scale of change to the grid?  If not, what kind of solutions can be implemented?

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Distributed Generation and the Utility

How will the rapid advance of new solar generation interact with the central electric systems and grid operators?

• Should all distributed generation offer the ability to disconnect from the central grid?

• Will distributed generation benefit/harm the utility?

• What incentives or policies should be implemented for the installation and operation of distributed systems?

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Solar Done Safely

• What are elements of good and bad system installation practice? 

• What policies should be in place to ensure that installed systems are sufficiently resilient to the effects of natural disasters?

• How resilient were residential and utility scale installations in the Caribbean during the 2017 storm season? 

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Standards for Renewable Energy

Overview of national standards for renewable energy, including the various federal resiliency studies which have been conducted in Puerto Rico and the Carribean

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Interactive on Microgrid Models

An audience-interactive discussion led by Rocky Mountain Institute on customer preferences and various microgrid financial and operational structures

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Envisioning a New Map of Energy Distribution

Given the unstable and unreliable nature of the old energy distribution system in Puerto Rico, some stakeholders have suggested a fundamental redesign of the island’s primary power grid.  A discussion of how to create that new map for energy distribution Puerto Rico using design methodologies and the data we currently have available.

• What design methodologies should be applied for a successful restructuring of Puerto Rico’s energy distribution systems?

• How can we use data from Puerto Rico’s existing electrical system to come up with the best approach for the next system?

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Implementing Sustainable Design 

A presentation on the principles of sustainable design in Puerto Rico.

• What are the best ways to incorporate sustainable design to Puerto Rico on both the residential, commercial, and industrial level?

• How can sustainable design facilitate distributed energy generation, and vice versa?

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Messaging for Solar: What to Say, What Not to Say

• What should and should not be said when conveying solar, storage, and distributed generation to the public? 

• What is the best way to convey the functionality of solar in a way that is accessible and understandable?

• What are the most important "false promises" to avoid as an industry? 

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Microgrid Technologies Showcase, p. 1

A series of 3 individual 15 -minute presentations, each sharing their experience and perspective on 3 things:

• What are the necessary component technologies of a microgrid?  What technologies are “tried-and-true”, and which are still in development? 

• What is the best way to manage energy distribution in a microgrid?

• The new Microgrid Rules state there is a distinct regulatory difference between small microgrids (<250kW), and large microgrids (>250kW). What are the different challenges brought in through scale? What makes a microgrid technology scaleable?

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Solar Humanitarian Efforts Showcase, p. 1

A series of presentations demonstrating all the work that nonprofit organizations have done in the field of renewable energy here in Puerto Rico.

 

Each presenter will work to answer the questions:

• How have nonprofit efforts been able to facilitate the development of renewable energy in Puerto Rico?

• How can nonprofit energy projects most effectively interface with for-profit efforts and address all the needs which can’t be effectively met by for-profit companies?

• How can nonprofit efforts be structured to operate sustainably and long-term in Puerto Rico?

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