Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto Rico
The transition to renewable energy is critical to enhance Puerto Rico’s energy resilience and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems provide a scalable opportunity to meet these objectives. This study evaluates the potential of rooftop PV systems across Puerto...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Carlos A. Peña-Becerra Willian A. Pacheco-Cano Daniel F. Aragones-Vargas Agustín Irizarry-Rivera Marcel Castro-Sitiriche |
| author_facet | Carlos A. Peña-Becerra Willian A. Pacheco-Cano Daniel F. Aragones-Vargas Agustín Irizarry-Rivera Marcel Castro-Sitiriche |
| author_sort | Carlos A. Peña-Becerra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The transition to renewable energy is critical to enhance Puerto Rico’s energy resilience and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems provide a scalable opportunity to meet these objectives. This study evaluates the potential of rooftop PV systems across Puerto Rico using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) PV Rooftop Database, processing detailed roof surface data to estimate installed capacity, energy generation, Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), and solar resource potential at municipal and barrio levels. Findings reveal high solar rooftop capacity in urban neighborhoods, with areas like Sabana Abajo and Hato Tejas each exceeding 450 GWh/year in potential generation. Solar rooftop resource values peak at 3.67 kWh/kW in coastal areas, with LCOE values (0.071–0.215 USD/kWh) below current electricity rates. All municipalities demonstrate technical potential to meet their electricity demand with rooftop PV system alone. This research contributes through (1) developing Puerto Rico’s first comprehensive solar rooftop potential map; (2) providing unprecedented barrio-level analysis; (3) introducing a methodology for estimating missing post-disaster consumption data; and (4) integrating technical, economic, and equity indicators to inform energy policy. These findings demonstrate the importance of rooftop solar in achieving renewable energy goals and provide an understanding of spatial energy inequalities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-668ca93b65584e4fae48d68ece2b05dc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-9941 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Solar |
| spelling | doaj-art-668ca93b65584e4fae48d68ece2b05dc2025-08-20T02:21:47ZengMDPI AGSolar2673-99412025-06-01522810.3390/solar5020028Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto RicoCarlos A. Peña-Becerra0Willian A. Pacheco-Cano1Daniel F. Aragones-Vargas2Agustín Irizarry-Rivera3Marcel Castro-Sitiriche4Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR 00682, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR 00682, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR 00682, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR 00682, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR 00682, USAThe transition to renewable energy is critical to enhance Puerto Rico’s energy resilience and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems provide a scalable opportunity to meet these objectives. This study evaluates the potential of rooftop PV systems across Puerto Rico using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) PV Rooftop Database, processing detailed roof surface data to estimate installed capacity, energy generation, Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), and solar resource potential at municipal and barrio levels. Findings reveal high solar rooftop capacity in urban neighborhoods, with areas like Sabana Abajo and Hato Tejas each exceeding 450 GWh/year in potential generation. Solar rooftop resource values peak at 3.67 kWh/kW in coastal areas, with LCOE values (0.071–0.215 USD/kWh) below current electricity rates. All municipalities demonstrate technical potential to meet their electricity demand with rooftop PV system alone. This research contributes through (1) developing Puerto Rico’s first comprehensive solar rooftop potential map; (2) providing unprecedented barrio-level analysis; (3) introducing a methodology for estimating missing post-disaster consumption data; and (4) integrating technical, economic, and equity indicators to inform energy policy. These findings demonstrate the importance of rooftop solar in achieving renewable energy goals and provide an understanding of spatial energy inequalities.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9941/5/2/28rooftop PVGISsolar energyenergy resilience |
| spellingShingle | Carlos A. Peña-Becerra Willian A. Pacheco-Cano Daniel F. Aragones-Vargas Agustín Irizarry-Rivera Marcel Castro-Sitiriche Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto Rico Solar rooftop PV GIS solar energy energy resilience |
| title | Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto Rico |
| title_full | Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto Rico |
| title_fullStr | Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto Rico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto Rico |
| title_short | Barrio-Level Assessment of Solar Rooftop Energy and Initial Insights into Energy Inequalities in Puerto Rico |
| title_sort | barrio level assessment of solar rooftop energy and initial insights into energy inequalities in puerto rico |
| topic | rooftop PV GIS solar energy energy resilience |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9941/5/2/28 |
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