LUMA and AES Puerto Rico announced the energization of the infrastructure connecting the Jobos Solar and Jobos BESS projects to Puerto Rico's electric grid. This step enables testing to begin on the island's first utility-scale battery energy storage system and represents significant progress in integrating new energy resources.
The projects will add 80 megawatts (MW) of solar generation and 110 MW of energy storage. The batteries will provide four hours of storage, with an approximate capacity of 440 megawatt-hours (MWh), allowing solar energy generated during the day to be stored and used during periods of peak demand, primarily in the evening. The solar generation will produce enough energy to meet the equivalent consumption of approximately 25,000 homes in Puerto Rico, reaching a peak equivalent of approximately 40,000 homes during midday hours, when demand is lower.
Esther Serra, LUMA's Senior Director of Renewable Energy Projects, emphasized the importance of integrating and coordinating renewable resources within the electric system. "For our customers, this project represents a key enhancement to the island's infrastructure by adding capacity that allows solar energy generated during the day to be used more efficiently and stored to precisely meet periods of higher demand at night. This new capacity helps ensure that available generation can be transmitted and distributed reliably, strengthening the system's operational stability and reducing the likelihood of load shedding associated with generation constraints," Serra said.
To complete the interconnection, LUMA:
- Energized a new 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line.
- Upgraded the Jobos TC 4003 Substation, including the installation of protection, automation, and metering equipment to safely integrate and monitor the flow of energy into the grid.
- Led the engineering assessments and technical and operational coordination.
Jobos Solar and Jobos BESS are part of Marahú, an AES Clean Flexible Energy project that received more than $860 million in financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
With energization complete, the teams will move forward with the testing required for both projects to begin commercial operations during the fourth quarter of 2026. This new phase lays the groundwork for the continued integration of renewable energy and storage projects that will contribute to a more reliable, resilient, and cleaner electric system for customers.
About LUMA
LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, since June 1, 2021, operates and maintains the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is a company driven by a mission to transform the electrical transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, cleaner, and affordable electrical service they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA's entire workforce of over 4,000 employees is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its nearly 1.5 million customers.
