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In a heartfelt gesture on International Women’s Day, Wood Mackenzie, in collaboration with Let’s Share the Sun and other partners, unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to empower a women’s shelter in Puerto Rico. The joint effort saw the installation of 51 solar panels coupled with battery storage, marking a significant stride towards sustainable energy for a shelter dedicated to victims of domestic violence.
The generous donation, a fully operational 25 kW-DC system, promises to alleviate a substantial portion of the shelter’s energy needs, serving as a beacon of hope for over 100 women accommodated within its walls.
“This was a very unique opportunity to provide energy and domestic security to an area that often lacks both,” said Luke Lewandowski, Vice President of Global Renewables Research at Wood Mackenzie. “It means a lot to work with this shelter on International Women’s Day and support this community through the benefits of sustainable energy. This new solar and storage system will provide financial relief to the shelter and give energy independence to this at-risk population.”
Puerto Rico, plagued by frequent power outages and escalating electricity costs, stands to benefit immensely from such initiatives. The collaborative effort symbolizes a collective resolve to address these challenges and foster resilience among underserved populations.
Accompanying Lewandowski at the dedication were notable figures including Bill Jordan, co-founder and president of Let’s Share the Sun Foundation, Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industry Association, and Augustin Carbo, Director of the Puerto Rico Grid Recovery and Modernization Team.
Wood Mackenzie’s steadfast commitment to enhancing energy security was further underscored by the announcement of a forthcoming volunteer delegation to Puerto Rico. This marks the third consecutive year of such missions, aimed at bolstering Let’s Share the Sun’s initiatives in impoverished communities.
Notably, last year saw the installation of 252 solar panels powering 39 homes and a domestic violence safe house in the Ponce area. This year’s delegation aims to surpass previous achievements, reaffirming Wood Mackenzie’s dedication to expanding energy access and promoting sustainable practices.
“Our continued collaboration with Let’s Share the Sun demonstrates our commitment to this important mission of providing renewable energy to impoverished communities,” said Lewandowski. “This year, we plan on doing more work than we have ever done in our continued mission to help the impoverished gain energy access and transform the way we power the planet.”
Let’s Share the Sun, a 501c3 foundation dedicated to deploying solar and energy storage solutions in impoverished communities globally, has been at the forefront of transformative initiatives since its inception in 2010. The partnership with Wood Mackenzie exemplifies their shared vision of leveraging renewable energy for social good.
Bernadette Jordan, Executive Director of Let’s Share the Sun, commented, “These solar installation delegation trips have a real personal and economic impact to beneficiaries, delegation participants, and the local solar installation partners; this year Sol de la Montana and ISO Solar. Last year, we partnered with Wood Mackenzie to provide services to several homes in Adjuntas and completed work on our first domestic violence safe house. This year, we are inspired to build upon this success and work on our second domestic violence safe house and we will continue our work on residential homes in Adjuntas.”
