The U.S. Army in Puerto Rico announced it is moving forward with a microgrid project to strengthen the energy resilience of Fort Buchanan, the Army’s Caribbean headquarters. According to reports, the investment aims to diversify electricity sources, increase redundancy and ensure the installation can keep critical operations running when a power source is unavailable. The microgrid is not intended to disconnect Fort Buchanan from the electrical system operated by the LUMA consortium or from any other available source of electricity.
The project will integrate different energy sources, including existing capabilities, to reduce reliance on a single source and increase the ability to sustain critical functions during prolonged outages. "We are looking for more options, not fewer," said Ulises Marrero, chief executive officer and acting commander of Fort Buchanan. "If one source is not available, we want other capabilities that allow us to continue the mission."
Fort Buchanan supports approximately 15,000 members of the Armed Forces, including active-duty personnel, Army Reserve, the Puerto Rico National Guard, the Marine Corps Reserve and the Navy Reserve.