Eaton and Enel X Expand Clean Energy Infrastructure, Strengthen Energy Resilience in Puerto Rico with Second Microgrid
October 06, 2021 at 09:03 am EDT
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Eaton and Enel X, the Enel Group's advanced energy services business line, announced plans for a second joint microgrid project in Puerto Rico. The projects will reduce demand on regional energy infrastructure, enable Eaton to power manufacturing with more renewables and boost energy resilience for its operations. Large-scale power outages have increased by 67% since 2000 and continue to impact millions of communities and businesses. (Source: Climate Central) Microgrid systems help prepare for the unexpected by balancing where, when and how electricity is consumed—to improve resilience, including during grid outage events. Microgrids also provide added value when grid conditions are normal by generating renewable energy from the solar panels, which can be consumed, or stored and delivered back to the local grid to reduce stress on regional utility infrastructure. The solar-plus-storage microgrid at the Eaton Las Piedras manufacturing facility will integrate nearly 5 megawatts (MWac) of solar PV and approximately 1.1 MW/2.2 MWh of battery storage into the facility's onsite power generation systems. The project is the second microgrid at an Eaton manufacturing site on the island. Together with the microgrid system at the Eaton Arecibo site, Eaton and Enel X will contribute 10 MWac of solar PV and 2.23 MW /4.46 MWh of battery storage in Puerto Rico by 2022. Under the terms of the agreement, Enel X will build, own and operate the system on behalf of Eaton. Additionally, Enel X will finance the project under an energy-as-a-service model, shifting Eaton's investment in the microgrid system from a capital to an operational expense. Eaton will provide installation expertise and key technologies for the microgrid system, including its leading microgrid controller and plant electrical distribution equipment. In addition to increasing the facility's resiliency, the solar-plus-storage system will enable Eaton to generate, store and consume renewable energy, and support the local grid by discharging renewable energy back to the grid, reducing emissions by limiting the need for carbon-intensive electricity during peak demand periods.
Eaton Corporation plc is a diversified industrial group organized around 4 families of products:
- distribution, control and electric protection systems and component (69.1% of net sales): low tension electric appliances, breakers, UPS, modulators, industrial automatisms, etc.;
- aerospace systems (14.7%): fuel power systems, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military aircrafts, men/machine interfaces, propellant systems, switching and electrical protection equipment, etc.;
- air managing systems for automotive engines (13.6%). The group also offers transmission systems for trucks;
- hydraulics system and component (6.6%): activity sold on 08/02/2021;
- other (2.6%).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: the United States (59.5%), Europe (19.1%), Asia/Pacific (10.5%), Latin America (7.3%), and Canada (3.6%).