$14M solar microgrid advances at Puerto Rico airport
Energy and microgrid developer Skysense said it is advancing the installation of what it described as the largest airport microgrid in Puerto Rico, a $14 million project aimed at improving energy resilience and operational efficiency at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
The microgrid, located on the roof of the airport’s multi-story parking structure, includes about 4,000 solar panels with a combined capacity of 2,000 kilowatt-peak, along with a 500-kilowatt-hour battery energy storage system.
Construction began in April, and the system is expected to connect to Puerto Rico’s electric grid during the first quarter of this year.
Skysense said the project represents a strategic investment in critical transportation infrastructure, particularly as energy reliability becomes increasingly important for airports and other high-demand facilities in island economies.
The company said the microgrid is expected to deliver operational cost savings for the airport terminal beginning in its first year of operation.
Development of the system required significant technical integration, including modifications to existing civil infrastructure to support the photovoltaic installation. That work included reinforcing steel columns and connecting the system to the airport’s ring-type electrical grid, which operates under elevated technical and safety standards.
Beyond reducing energy costs through on-site solar generation, the battery storage component is intended to help stabilize airport operations. Francisco Cervantes, Skysense’s chief commercial officer, said the battery system will provide frequency regulation services, which support grid stability for facilities that operate continuously.
Once fully operational, the microgrid will be interconnected at 4,170 volts and will serve as a model for integrating renewable energy and battery storage into high-demand airport infrastructure, Skysense said.
