In rural Puerto Rico, access to reliable energy is a barrier to food production and economic growth, especially in the face of extreme weather.
Twende Solar partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to install a first-of-its-kind, disaster-prepared agrivoltaic system on a coffee farm in the mountains of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico.
This innovative 9.8 kW PV pole-mount system was installed using MT Solar racking on six single-pole mounted arrays of 4 modules each with deep foundations embedded six feet deep into the hillside. The arrays were lifted 15 feet above the canopy of the coffee trees below, sharing the agricultural land and providing shade to the plants.
This project is part of the NREL initiative called the “Innovative Site Preparation and Impact Reductions on the Environment (InSPIRE)” which aims to demonstrate opportunities where solar projects can be successfully integrated with agricultural operations to improve yields and lower costs.
This pilot project combines solar energy and sustainable agriculture, serving as a model for disaster preparedness and climate resilience in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean.
By sharing data, lessons learned, and technical designs with government, nonprofit, and industry partners, Twende Solar is helping pave the way for scalable, storm-ready agrivoltaic systems in vulnerable communities around the world.
Project Impact
Climate Resilience & Disaster Readiness: The hurricane-resilient design provides a blueprint for how renewable energy infrastructure can withstand extreme weather and ensure critical operations continue after disasters.
Regional & Global Influence: This pilot will inform the standardization and scaling of agrivoltaic systems throughout Puerto Rico and other disaster-prone regions, positioning Twende Solar and its partners at the forefront of innovation in climate-adaptive agriculture and energy access.
Revitalized Food Production: A hydroponic greenhouse, once shuttered by unreliable energy access, will be brought back online—creating new income opportunities and improving local food availability.
Job Creation & Economic Stability: With lower energy costs and new revenue from solar-powered operations, the farm will be able to hire additional agricultural labor and reinvest in its community.
Our Project Partners
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) bridges research with real-world applications to advance energy technologies that lower costs, boost the economy, strengthen security, and ensure abundant energy.
Aireko Energy Group specializes in electrical contracting and engineering of distributed energy resources and energy efficiency solutions to customers with mission-critical projects for clients throughout Florida & US Southeast, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
