Sylvie Willis
Puerto Rico is heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet its energy needs as it has no proven reserves or production of fossil fuels. The island imports all of its petroleum products, with petroleum-fired power plants providing 62% of its electricity generation capacity in 2024. Natural gas, which accounts for 24% of the energy mix, arrives at two liquefied natural gas import terminals, with imports reaching a new high of 82 billion cubic feet in 2023. Coal makes up the remaining 8% of fossil fuel imports, with renewable sources providing just 7% of the country's energy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fossil fuel-fired power plants share in electricity generation | 93% in 2024 |
| Petroleum-fired power plants share in electricity generation | 62% in 2024 |
| Natural gas share in electricity generation | 24% in 2024 |
| Coal share in electricity generation | 8% in 2024 |
| Renewables share in electricity generation | 7% in 2024 |
| Fossil fuels share in electricity generation | 97% |
| Petroleum share in total energy consumption | 58% in 2023 |
| Natural gas share in total energy consumption | 31% in 2023 |
| Coal share in total energy consumption | 10% in 2023 |
| Renewables share in total energy consumption | 1% in 2023 |
| Petroleum imports | All petroleum products are imported, mostly through the port of San Juan |
| Natural gas imports | Imported LNG mostly comes from Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria, with smaller shipments from Norway, Spain, and Egypt |
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What You'll Learn
In 2023, petroleum accounted for 58% of Puerto Rico's energy use
Puerto Rico is highly dependent on fossil fuels, particularly petroleum products, to meet its energy needs. In 2023, petroleum accounted for 58% of the Commonwealth's total energy use, highlighting the significant role of fossil fuels in Puerto Rico's energy landscape.
The island imports all its petroleum products, with the port of San Juan being the primary entry point and minor shipments arriving at the ports of Ponce, Guayanilla, and Yabucoa. The closure of Puerto Rico's petroleum refineries, including the last one at Yabucoa in 2009, has not diminished the reliance on imported petroleum. This dependence on imports underscores the country's lack of proven reserves or production of fossil fuels, including petroleum.
Petroleum-fired power plants play a crucial role in electricity generation, contributing significantly to Puerto Rico's electricity-generating capacity. In 2024, petroleum-fired power plants provided 62% of the country's electricity generation capacity, a slight increase from the 58% contribution in 2023. This heavy reliance on petroleum for electricity underscores the country's dependence on fossil fuels.
While Puerto Rico has renewable resources like solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass, these sources account for a small fraction of the country's energy mix. In 2023, renewables represented about 1% of the Commonwealth's energy use, indicating that the transition to renewable energy has been slow. However, federal studies suggest that Puerto Rico can fully shift to clean energy by 2050, leveraging its abundant renewable energy resources.
In summary, the statement "In 2023, petroleum accounted for 58% of Puerto Rico's energy use" highlights the significant role of fossil fuels, particularly petroleum, in meeting the Commonwealth's energy needs. This reliance on imported petroleum contributes to Puerto Rico's energy landscape, where fossil fuel-fired power plants dominate electricity generation. While renewables play a minor role currently, there is optimism for a future transition to clean energy, driven by federal initiatives and the recognition of the island's renewable energy potential.
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Natural gas imports reached a new high in 2023
Puerto Rico has no reserves or production of fossil fuels and relies primarily on imports to meet its energy needs. In 2023, petroleum accounted for 58% of the territory's total energy use, while natural gas accounted for 31%.
Natural gas arrives in Puerto Rico at two liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals: one near Ponce at Guayanilla Bay in the southwest and one at the Port of San Juan in the north. The regasified LNG fuels electricity generation at the Costa Sur and EcoEléctrica power plants. In 2023, LNG imports to Puerto Rico reached a new high of 82 billion cubic feet, up from 50 billion cubic feet in 2022.
The imported LNG comes primarily from Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria, with smaller shipments from Norway, Spain, and Egypt. The LNG is supplied to the San Juan PREPA Power Plant by the New Fortress Energy regasification terminal. Ecoeléctrica, an independent power generator, also imports, regasifies, and distributes natural gas throughout the island, mainly to industrial and commercial operations.
There are plans to further increase Puerto Rico's reliance on imported natural gas, including proposals to convert two units of the San Juan power plant from oil to natural gas and to construct two new natural gas-fired power plants. These plans are promoted as a way to reduce electric rates and promote a financially healthy power system. However, critics argue that these plans will cost Puerto Rico dearly, crowding out cheaper renewable energy options and benefiting off-island gas companies.
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The island imports all its petroleum products
Puerto Rico imports all of its petroleum products, with most shipments arriving at the port of San Juan, and smaller shipments reaching the ports of Ponce, Guayanilla, and Yabucoa. The port of San Juan is one of the largest natural harbors in the Caribbean. Notably, the island's last petroleum refinery, located in Yabucoa, closed down in 2009, following the closure of four other island refineries between 1992 and 2005. Despite the refinery closures, the Yabucoa site continues to serve as a petroleum terminal, with 4.6 million barrels of tank storage and shipping facilities.
The island's petroleum imports consist mainly of motor gasoline, residual fuel oil, and jet fuel. These petroleum products are primarily utilized by Puerto Rico's transportation and electric power sectors. Notably, the island permits the use of conventional motor gasoline without ethanol.
In 2023, petroleum accounted for approximately 58% of Puerto Rico's total energy consumption, while natural gas contributed 31%, coal made up 10%, and renewables accounted for a mere 1%. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly petroleum, underscores the significant role that imported energy sources play in meeting the island's energy demands.
Puerto Rico's dependence on imported fossil fuels, especially petroleum, has resulted in a higher average electricity price than most U.S. states. This situation highlights the economic impact of the island's energy imports. Furthermore, the reliance on fossil fuels has contributed to chronic power outages and a decaying electric grid, underscoring the vulnerabilities of a fossil fuel-dependent energy system.
Despite the challenges, there is a growing consensus that Puerto Rico can transition to clean energy by 2050. This shift is supported by the island's renewable energy resources, which are more than sufficient to meet its energy demands. Federal initiatives, such as subsidizing residential rooftop solar and battery storage systems, are also driving the transition to clean energy.
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Fossil fuel-fired power plants provided 93% of electricity in 2024
Puerto Rico is heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports to meet its energy needs. The Commonwealth has no proven reserves or production of fossil fuels. It imports all of its petroleum products, mainly through the port of San Juan, with minor shipments arriving at the ports of Ponce, Guayanilla, and Yabucoa. In 2023, petroleum accounted for 58% of Puerto Rico's total energy use, while natural gas accounted for 31%, coal for 10%, and renewables for about 1%.
In 2024, fossil fuel-fired power plants provided 93% of Puerto Rico's electricity-generating capacity. This was primarily through petroleum-fired power plants, which provided 62% of the country's electricity. Natural gas and coal followed, contributing 24% and 8% respectively. Only 7% of electricity was generated from renewable sources.
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), a publicly owned power utility, serves about 1.5 million customers and is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States by customer numbers. However, on a per-customer basis, PREPA provides less power than comparable mainland US utilities. In 2020, the private entity LUMA Energy was chosen to manage and improve Puerto Rico's electricity transmission and distribution system. Despite these efforts, the island continues to experience power outages, such as the blackout in December 2024 that left 1.2 million people without electricity.
Puerto Rico has set ambitious targets for renewable energy. Under the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act, PREPA is mandated to obtain 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025, 60% by 2040, and 100% by 2050. However, the transition to renewable energy has been slow, and by mid-2023, none of the approved projects had commenced operations. In 2024, two renewable energy projects came online: the Punta Lima wind farm and a utility-scale solar photovoltaic installation. Despite these developments, PREPA reported that only 2% of its total electricity generation came from renewable sources in fiscal year 2023.
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The future of Puerto Rico's energy system will be renewable-based
Puerto Rico is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with no proven reserves or production of fossil fuels of its own. The island imports all its petroleum products and natural gas, with fossil fuel-fired power plants providing 93% of its electricity in 2024. However, there is a growing consensus that the future of Puerto Rico's energy system will be renewable-based.
Puerto Rico has abundant renewable energy resources in the form of solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass. Despite the slow transition to renewable energy, there is potential for a rapid shift. In 2024, a federal study by FEMA and the US Department of Energy concluded that Puerto Rico could fully transition to clean energy by 2050. This is supported by the fact that Puerto Rico has more than ten times the renewable energy resources required to meet the island's demands through 2050.
To facilitate this transition, the US Department of Energy and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have announced a federally funded program to subsidize residential rooftop solar and battery storage systems for low-income households. This is a significant step towards increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the island's government will operate temporary generators through 2025 to reduce power outages and allow for maintenance on the fragile power grid.
While there are doubts about the feasibility of a complete renewable transition, the push for clean energy in Puerto Rico is gaining momentum. The territory has ambitious energy policies, such as the recent law requiring 40% clean energy by 2025 and 100% by 2050. With ongoing initiatives and increasing renewable energy infrastructure, Puerto Rico is taking concrete steps towards a renewable-based energy future.
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Frequently asked questions
Puerto Rico relies primarily on imported fossil fuels to meet its energy needs, consuming almost 70 times more energy than it produces. In 2023, petroleum accounted for 58% of its total energy use, while LNG imports reached a new high of 82 billion cubic feet.
Puerto Rico imports petroleum products, natural gas, and coal.
Most petroleum products are imported through the port of San Juan, with minor shipments arriving at the ports of Ponce, Guayanilla, and Yabucoa. LNG imports primarily come from Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria, with smaller shipments from Norway, Spain, and Egypt.
Puerto Rico's per capita petroleum consumption is about half of the U.S. average. Its per capita natural gas consumption is about one-fourth of the U.S. average. Its electricity price is higher than all but three U.S. states.
Puerto Rico aims to fully transition to clean energy by 2050, according to a federal study and report by FEMA and the US Department of Energy. This shift is supported by the island's renewable energy resources, which are more than tenfold the amount required to meet its demands through 2050.
