iPR inaugurates $9.7M Bio Solar Park in Canóvanas
iPR Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca, has opened a $9.7 million Bio Solar Park in Canóvanas. The photovoltaic installation is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 173 tons of carbon dioxide annually — an 8% reduction from current levels — and supports AstraZeneca’s global “Ambition Zero Carbon” initiative.
“We’re deeply committed to reducing our emissions [and ensuring sustainability] for our facilities,” said Sara Miranda, iPR’s general manager, adding that the plant now operates with multiple levels of power redundancy to ensure manufacturing continuity for the more than 120 countries it supplies.
“We understand the deep connection between healthy people and a healthy planet,” she added.
The Bio Solar Park, according to company data, includes 3,709 solar panels generating 2.04 megawatts and a 2-megawatt-hour battery bank. iPR said the installation produces enough energy to power about 235 U.S. homes each year and prevents emissions equivalent to removing 510 gasoline-powered cars from the road. The facility complements an 875-kilowatt solar park the company built in 2022.
The inauguration ceremony brought together Gov. Jenniffer González, Economic Development Secretary Sebastián Negrón and Canóvanas Mayor Lornna Soto, among others.
“This facility reflects the vision we have for Puerto Rico: an economic development model that integrates innovation, productivity and environmental responsibility,” González said, calling the project a model for sustainable growth.
Negrón highlighted iPR’s leadership in corporate sustainability.
“In a world full of risks and challenges, investing in clean energy, protecting the environment and strengthening resilience is an act of leadership,” he said.
“Building resilient infrastructure, safeguarding our natural resources and promoting clean energy are not just environmental goals — they are economic imperatives that protect Puerto Rico’s long-term competitiveness,” he added.
Over the past seven years, iPR said it has invested about $22 million in energy projects, including a liquefied natural gas co-generation facility that has reduced emissions by 60% since 2015. According to the company, its next phase involves incorporating renewable liquefied natural gas sourced from methane at the Humacao landfill.
