Thinking about Puerto Rico

I've been thinking about this a lot over the last few days - having family friends with family on the island and hearing their worry, it is hard not to.

Perhaps this could be a wonderful opportunity for the US, it's people and it's economy.

The infrastructure of the island is, for all intends and purposes, gone. This leaves the opportunity to rebuild from the ground up providing a 'test bed' for new technologies and systems.

We learned from Harvey that wind power is resilient:

E.ON's 196-turbine Papalote Creek Wind Farm outside Corpus Christi, Texas, temporarily closed amid Hurricane Harvey, but was able to quickly resume full operations by Friday, according to the company. "What we learned from Harvey is that the design being used right now and the operating rules work very well," said University of Colorado professor Julie Lundquist, one of several experts to praise the durability of coastal wind farms in the region.

www.smartbrief.com...

The only problem was that this installations was of German design, construction and management. It worked quite well.

A combination power system of Wind and Solar (maybe German design - but US only construction and manangemet) and majority owned by the people of Puerto Rico could be set-up with capital coming from the government (US) on behalf of PR for PR and private US based interests.

New roads could be constructed with materials that let water through thereby easing run off and flooding.

New designs for dams could be put in place.

New building technologies of all manner could be tested for safety, utility, ease, and cost on a wide scale.

What do you think? What else could be tried?

The US really needs to start investing in this things if it's going to survive. We have to cut back military spending and military aid across the globe and return our tradition of isolationism - become one of many rather then ...

a reply to: FyreByrd

Maybe 3D printing can assist the rebuilding process.

a reply to: Ophiuchus 13

Exactly - Thank you.

a reply to: FyreByrd

You are welcome FyreByrd, thank you for caring about others under extreme pressure and stress

That is brilliant idea!

UniEnergiesTechnologies.com - Home page.

Around 10 years ago (maybe sooner), forecasting electric grid growth the DOE realized that the (then) grid was woefully underscaled. Brown outs, black outs, and surges were the norm. Systems connected up, some didn't at all. The idea of storage was discussed. The question was asked, "how do we modernize The Grid?" One thing became apparent, they were going to need storage. Short term storage and long term. Enter NASA and how they make electricity for several modules: Redox Flow Batteries (RFB).

The batteries are turned around. Instead of mixing fluids and chemically running current (possible explosive reaction), they split the electrolytes apart. They keep them separated by a membrane. Then one side is charged with electricity storing it for future use. The two alternate charges are moved passed each other (the "flow" portion in their names), usually a small pump, the two electrolytes react (oxide reduction, the "redox" part of the name), creating an electric current that is tapped. They have different electrolyte formulas but the one that has received research is using the chemical vanadium.

UET makes vanadium redox flow batteries in shipping containers for grid level storage. The RFB provide another benefit by keeping those surges, peaks, and dips out of the Grid. It kind of smooths everything out. Power goes out, they kick in and continue to provide power. Depending on size, if you need to run longer, add more electrolytes!

Instead of dropping off generators that run out of gas, you deliver more pre-charged electrolytes. You can add solar and wind power to them too! The US will be marching in that direction and we should show everybody what a decentralized Grid looks like, and how one runs. All while helping the people of Puerto Rico.

a reply to: FyreByrd

Puerto Rico has wind farms on the south side of the island. However, the winds blew so hard that it blew the blades off of the turbines. See the link here for the turbine destruction:

www.windaction.org...

Solar and wind power should be important for Puerto Rico's future. It has to import oil and gas which drives up the cost of energy and makes factories impractical. Getting solar, wind, and hydro should help lower the cost.

originally posted by: inert
a reply to: FyreByrd

Puerto Rico has wind farms on the south side of the island. However, the winds blew so hard that it blew the blades off of the turbines. See the link here for the turbine destruction:

www.windaction.org...

Solar and wind power should be important for Puerto Rico's future. It has to import oil and gas which drives up the cost of energy and makes factories impractical. Getting solar, wind, and hydro should help lower the cost.

I have read of this concern for wind farms but it seems easier to fix a few broken blades and 'nodes' that don't take down the whole system and have a system that can be up and running, if not during as some where in Texas, shortly after a disaster. Don't have any idea how wind farms would hold up to earthquakes but imagine they would do quite well in that instance also.

Thank you for thoughtful reply.

I'm all for this. In fact, Puerto Rico could be a case study in new technology and infrastructure. I wish I was in a position to go there and be part of it.

Can Puerto Rico declare a disaster area and get funding from the feds?

a reply to: FyreByrd

Out of the ashes...

I agree, this would be a great opportunity to upgrade Puerto Rico's infracture and utilities to newer and better technologies.

But the question is:

Will it actually happen ?

Most likely not due to lack of funding, sadly. But maybe some home owners might have the ability to build themselves better homes to withstand this sort of thing (or at least improve their chances) ?

I like your way of thinking.

a reply to: CranialSponge

An update:

Tesla Has an Incredible Plan to Rebuild Puerto Rico’s Power Grid

www.architecturaldigest.com...

While Musk has floated some wild ideas in recent days, using Tesla's battery technology to power utility systems is already proving itself to be feasible. The company is in the process of installing the world’s largest lithium-ion battery to help support a power grid in southern Australia, and the Hawaiian island of Kauai gets 44 percent of its energy from Tesla’s large-scale Powerpack batteries connected to a massive solar farm.

Puerto Rico in talks with Tesla for batteries; Sonnen to help build microgrids

arstechnica.com...

In a press statement, Sonnen said it was already sending batteries to the island from its manufacturing center in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is partnering with local renewable energy company Pura Energia to install the systems. “With over 21,000 actual working installations worldwide, Sonnen's energy storage system is uniquely equipped to help provide relief in Puerto Rico, with no delay,” the press statement said. “In fact, since early 2016, Sonnen has had functional energy storage systems installed in Puerto Rico.”

Dare I say - this is getting interesting....

a reply to: FyreByrd

Oooo... that's great news for folks on the island !

Thanks for the update.