Loan secured to finance 200 MW solar & 285 MW storage system in Puerto Rico

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted a loan of US$861.3 million to Clean Flexible Energy, LLC to finance the construction of two solar photovoltaic (PV) farms equipped with battery storage and two standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Puerto Rico. The solar and storage systems collectively known as Project Marahu consist of 200 MW solar and 285 MW of four-hour batteries (1.14 GWh) storage systems.

The facilities will be located in the municipalities of Guayama (Jobos) and Salinas and will help deliver clean, reliable, and affordable power throughout Puerto Rico. The borrower is an indirect subsidiary of AES Corporation (AES) and TotalEnergies Holdings USA, Inc. and is managed under a joint venture agreement between the two. 

Annually, the solar installations will generate about 460,000 MWh, powering around 43,000 homes and improving Puerto Rico’s grid reliability and energy security. Battery storage will allow the project to continue to provide energy to residents even during adverse weather conditions. Project Marahu aims to replace fossil fuel generation, cutting emissions by 2.7 million tons of CO2e annually, equivalent to the emissions of about 533,000 gasoline-powered vehicles. This project will support approximately 750 construction jobs and more than 50 full-time jobs once fully operational.