Received (26/09/2023), Accepted (15/02/2024)

Abstract. - The description of the geographical location study of a photovoltaic plant to be constructed in

the coming years in Puerto Rico is presented as part of a major project the island has embarked upon to

enhance its electrical service. This study entailed selecting the terrain based on its topography, as well as

assessing the convenience of its location concerning its proximity to the national electrical interconnection

system. Additionally, relevant consultations were conducted regarding the rights over the lands that will be

affected by the construction of the photovoltaic plant (easements). As a result of this study, a plot of land

spanning 131.56 hectares in the Juana Díaz sector, 1.59 kilometers from the electrical interconnected

Resumen: En este proyecto se realizó un experimento de ingeniería utilizando mediciones para estimar la

gravedad analítica y gráficamente. Este enfoque experimental pretende demostrar la utilidad de los

principios de ingeniería para verificar los valores de la gravedad terrestre. Se emplearon métodos

estadísticos para mejorar la comprensión de los conceptos subyacentes y garantizar una estimación precisa

de los errores. Los principales resultados sugieren que esta práctica de ingeniería es una herramienta eficaz

para evaluar la gravedad, en la que el análisis estadístico descriptivo desempeña un papel fundamental a la

hora de presentar datos fiables y precisos.

Palabras clave: plantas fotovoltaicas, energías renovables, desarrollo sostenible, calentamiento global.

I. INTRODUCTION

Our planet faces an urgent challenge: reducing uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate

global warming. Ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come necessitates immediate action. The

This paper presents a case study examining Puerto Rico's ambitious plans for renewable energy

integration. The country aims to install and generate 3.750 MW of renewable energy capacity with an

additional 1.500 MW of battery storage within the next four years [1][6]-[9]. To achieve this objective, the

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) will issue six Requests for Development Proposals by 2024.

Fig. 1 schematically depicts these six tranches, specifying the targeted generation and storage capacity for

each phase.

of experience, has been supporting Puerto Rico's utility industry and government regulators since 2022.

The company, along with its island-wide subsidiaries, is currently managing the bidding, review, and award

process for Tranche 2, as illustrated in Figure 1. This process aims to select multiple projects that collectively

contribute 500 MW of renewable generation and 250 MW of energy storage. Accion established a proposal

submission deadline of December 5, 2022. One proposal submitted by Engineering, Procura y Construcción,

a Panamanian and Puerto Rican company, focuses on a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to

generate 30 MW in the Juana Díaz area. This project entails constructing a 30 MW photovoltaic plant

utilizing bifacial panels mounted on fixed structures. Additionally, it includes a 34.5/115 kV step-up

substation and a 1.59 km overhead transmission line connecting to the PREPA's TC Canas substation in

Ponce (southern Puerto Rico). This paper focuses on the proposed plant's location characteristics.

The paper is structured into the following sections: Introduction, the 30 MW Generation Project for 25

Years, Management of the Photovoltaic Plant, Site Selection for the Photovoltaic Plant, Land Topography,

Juana Díaz Land Boundary and Associated Data, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) of Juana Díaz, Terrain

Analysis, Easements and Results Related to the Photovoltaic Plant, and Conclusions.

II. 30 MW GENERATION PROJECT FOR 25 YEARS

This work contributes to a broader effort to establish a comprehensive, 25-year operational management

plan for an electric power generation plant in Puerto Rico. Specifically, it details the design and

implementation plan for the Juana Díaz 30 MW photovoltaic project. The design process incorporated a

sustainability assessment, evaluating the project's environmental, economic, and social impacts. The design

plan considered a review of the Puerto Rico Electric System's Administrative Management [3]. Since 1941,

On August 24, 2020, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau issued the Final Resolution and Order on the

Integrated Resource Plan of PREPA (Case No. CEPR-AP-2018-0001). This plan mandates the issuance of

Requests for Proposals (RFP) tranches to procure renewable energy resources. Tranche 1 seeks at least

3,750 MW of solar PV or other renewables with 1,500 MW of battery storage, while Tranche 2 targets at

least 500 MW of solar PV or renewable equivalents with 250 MW of battery storage (1,000 MWh or

equivalent) [5]. The proposal described in this article falls under Tranche 2 and focuses on a 25-year Power

Purchase Agreement (PPA) to generate 30 MW using photovoltaic technology in the Juana Díaz area [6, 7].

A. Photovoltaic plant management

A total of 4857 cartographic photographs were obtained, captured with a camera at 90 degrees

concerning the ground surface in Juana Díaz. That data was acquired on two different trips, according to

and 63 minutes respectively.

Juana Díaz

Table 6. Orthomosaic accuracy in meters.

The files that make up the orthomosaic and elevation model are high- and low- resolution images in

Fig. 10. OBJ Model by Juana Díaz.

Data processing revealed that 62.71 hectares of land in Juana Díaz are suitable for installing the

photovoltaic plant, as shown in Fig. 12. Digital technology studies confirmed the presence of hills and

depressions observed during field visits, thus validating the chosen technology [6]-[9]. Fig. 13 further

supports the existence of flat areas within the easement lands.

Fig. 11. Image obtained from the NDVI Vegetation Index of Juana Díaz.