Enel completes microgrid at Eaton plant in Puerto Rico

Enel North America on Tuesday said it has completed Puerto Rico’s largest clean energy microgrid at a manufacturing facility of power management company Eaton (NYSE:ETN).

The 5-MW solar system combined with a 1.1-MW battery and existing onsite generators is located at Eaton’s circuit breaker manufacturing facility in Arecibo. The project reduces the facility’s carbon footprint, as well as stress on the island’s utility infrastructure.

The North American arm of Italian utility group Enel SpA (BIT:ENEL) built, owns and operates the installation. Enel financed the project under an energy-as-a-service model and also provided installation expertise and certain technologies for the microgrid system. The companies are kicking off construction of a second microgrid at Eaton’s Las Piedras manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico.

“As the impacts of climate change worsen, large energy users are stepping up to power their facilities sustainably,” said Matt Barnes, head of distributed energy solutions at Enel North America.

“Communities and businesses everywhere need far more sustainable, resilient and affordable power,” added Mike Yelton, president, Americas Region, Electrical Sector at Eaton.

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