When a marina in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, learned that utility power would not be restored until at least July 2018, they decided to invest $10 million in a solar installation which will make them a net-zero energy property, according to an El Nuevo Dia article. Marina Puerto Del Rey is the largest marina in the Caribbean.
The marina has been operating since Hurricane Irma on two standby generators, which are enough to supply the main building and the boatyard, but not to supply power to the 600 boats in the marina, with many families living on their boats because they haven’t had power at home. A recently acquired 1,500 kW generator brings the facility to full capacity. The facility has 1,000 wetslips, in addition to more than 400 dry stack spaces on 50 acres of land, and employs nearly 1,000 journeymen, electricians, and painters, among other trades.
The generators and solar plant will provide redundant onsite power sufficient to support the marina’s enterprise, which now also includes a significant maintenance and repair business of boats from the Virgin Islands, which previously had to travel to Florida for services.
In addition to redundant power, since 2013 the marina’s owner has spent millions on repairing the marina’s infrastructure to increase its hurricane resiliency. Repairs included a breakwater, reinforcing concrete docks, and building sophisticated hurricane tie-downs. After Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm, less than three percent of the boats in the marina had suffered major damages.
This Quick Read was submitted by Naomi Millán, Building Operating Management, senior editor.
