Puerto Rico Now Gets 20% of Power from Rooftop Solar

Puerto Ricans are building their own power grid, one rooftop at a time.

New data from the US Energy Information Administration reveals that rooftop solar now accounts for 20% of all power generation capacity in Puerto Rico. That puts it ahead of natural gas and behind only petroleum as the island's top energy source.

The transformation has been remarkably fast. Between 2016 and 2025, distributed solar installations made up 81% of all new generating capacity added to Puerto Rico's grid. Last year alone, residents and businesses installed an average of 3,850 rooftop systems every single month.

By the end of 2025, nearly 192,000 active solar systems dotted Puerto Rican rooftops, generating 1,456 megawatts of clean power. That dwarfs the estimated 165 megawatts from utility-scale solar farms on the island.

PJ Wilson, president of the Solar Energy and Storage Association Puerto Rico, says the momentum won't slow down. "We are committed to building on this and ensuring rooftop solar and storage continue to grow as a key part of Puerto Rico's energy system to strengthen the grid and expand energy independence," he told reporters.

Grid independence matters deeply here. The average Puerto Rican experiences at least 27 hours of power outages each year, with some areas facing nearly 200 hours depending on severe weather.

That's why more than 171,000 households and businesses have also installed battery systems, creating a combined storage capacity of 2,864 megawatt-hours. These batteries don't just keep individual lights on during outages.

Many battery owners participate in virtual power plants through a program where grid operator LUMA can tap into distributed batteries during peak demand. Customers get compensated while helping balance the entire island's electricity supply.

The Ripple Effect

What's happening in Puerto Rico shows how communities can take energy resilience into their own hands. Rather than waiting for massive infrastructure projects, homeowners and small businesses invested in their own power generation.

The approach creates jobs for local installers, reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, and builds a more resilient grid from the ground up. Analysts at Wood Mackenzie expect another 3,000 megawatt-hours of distributed storage to be added by 2030.

The island still has work to do toward its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050. But the solar rooftop revolution proves that big change often starts small, spreads neighbor by neighbor, and eventually transforms an entire power system.