Overview: Electrical Grid Instability

The electrical power grid in Puerto Rico is unreliable, especially during hurricanes and other natural disasters¹. This loss of power can be a matter of life or death for residents with certain medical conditions² and puts processes such as education on hold³. Mountainous areas are some of the most under-resourced regions on the island due to their challenging terrain, which makes access to power difficult⁴. Within these regions and throughout Puerto Rico, schools often act as community centers, especially during times of crisis⁵. Unfortunately, many schools’ abilities to function as community hubs and emergency response centers are limited by a lack of reliable alternative power sources⁶. To provide reliable power to these facilities, we propose a four-step solution involving the implementation of renewable energy: (1) selecting an optimal energy source based on geographical factors, (2) estimating the cost with financial calculators, (3) acquiring funding and materials, and (4) educating the affected populations on the impact and maintenance of these systems.

Scroll down to learn more about our Problem Statement, Background Information, and Solution Proposals.