In a first of its kind, a solar project will be installed in America in the island of Puerto Rico. The 1.2GW solar project will soon open in Aguadilla. According to Solx, the solar facility will be up and running in 2025.
First artificial energy in America
Administered by Great Lakes Solx PR LLC (Solx), the company CEO James Holmes says the project will also bring benefits as it will create 250 new jobs.
Holmes explains that: “There aren’t that many facilities that are purpose-built on the island. Many of our [solar panel manufacturing] peers are building greenfield projects with new buildings and there’s a lot of risk.”
Solx CEO added that they have found a building that is move-in ready as they are committed to the community of Aguadilla, reports solapowerworldonline.
SOlx signs contract in America
Per a communique from the company, they have announced the signing of a 10-year lease with potential extensions on the 150,000-ft2 building on HP’s 65-acre campus.
The company is pumping $20 million into the facility to get it ready for panel manufacturing. In addition, the solar company said there will not be Solx-branded panels on the market but it will operate as an OEM, making panels for Tier 1 companies with supply chain traceability.
“Our primary focus is the utility market, but we can reconfigure our assembly lines to manufacture residential modules as well. 1.2 GW is the right size to service the Puerto Rican market and as a gateway to the larger U.S. region,” Holmes added.
America as a leader in solar energy
The American nation, Puerto Rico is regarded as a leader in solar energy adoption, and this is fueled by the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act (Act 17-2019) as well as significant investments by the U.S. Department of Energy under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Taking a glance at its goals and targets, the island has set a clear goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2050, with intermediate milestones of 40% by 2025 and 60% by 2040.
The Solx facility will play a key role in helping Puerto Rico achieve those goals, the firm’s CEO said, producing up to 1.2 gigawatts of solar panels annually to support both local projects and broader markets in the continental United States.
The governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia expressed delight in the project, stating: “Puerto Rico offers an ideal location and a perfect talent pool for solar panel manufacturing.”
“This new facility will create affordable solar panels to meet the growing demand for clean energy in the region. The investment will drive economic growth and job creation, in turn helping to build a sustainable future for Puerto Rico. We welcome Solx to Aguadilla and applaud their vision of supporting the transition to renewable energy,” he said.
“With this type of investment, we have a great opportunity to become a model for other islands and communities that are transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. I am confident that with the right investments and policies we are creating, Puerto Rico can transform its energy system in a way that is both sustainable and economically beneficial.”
Meanwhile, on behalf of InvestPR, CEO Ella Woger-Nieves stressed the importance of the partnership, adding that “Solx’s decision to establish its operations in Puerto Rico is a testament to the island’s potential as a hub for renewable energy innovation.”
“We are proud to have supported Solx in the processes to establish its facilities here,” she said. “This initiative contributes to our renewable energy goals while creating valuable opportunities for Puerto Ricans in a critical and growing industry.”