Puerto Rico Territory Energy Profile

Puerto Rico Quick Facts

• Puerto Rico has few conventional energy resources, and shipped in petroleum products are the dominant energy 

source for the island.

• In 2013, 55% of Puerto Rico’s electricity came from petroleum, 28% from natural gas, 16% from coal, and 1% 

from renewable energy. 

• In 2010, Puerto Rico was fifth among U.S. states and territories in installations of solar thermal hot water heaters. 

Two wind facilities that began operations in 2012, the Santa Isabel and Punta da Lima plants, have about 120

megawatts of capacity. In addition, up to 30 billion kilowatthours per year of electricity could potentially be 

generated by tapping ocean wave energy.

• Puerto Rico offers tax benefits to encourage installation of solar equipment and allows net metering, meaning that 

residents can sell power from home solar panels to the grid.

• Puerto Rico has adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard requiring 20% of net electricity sales to come from 

renewable energy resources by 2035.

Last Updated: April 16, 2015

Data

Last Update: June 18, 2015 | Next Update: July 16, 2015

Economy

Population and Industry Puerto Rico United States Period

Population 3.7 million 311.6 million 2011 

Energy Intensity 4,230 Btu per 2005 U.S. 

dollar 

7,328 Btu per 2005 U.S. 

dollar 

2011 

Reserves & Supply

Reserves Puerto Rico United States Period

Crude Oil 0 billion barrels 23 billion barrels 2011 

Natural Gas Reserves 0 billion cu ft 305 billion cu ft 2011 

Recoverable Coal -- 260,551 million short tons 2008 

Production Puerto Rico United States Period

Total Energy * 78 quadrillion Btu 2011 

Puerto Rico Profile Page 1 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015
Economy

Crude Oil 0 thousand barrels/day 8,653 thousand barrels/day 2014 

Natural Gas - Marketed 0 billion cu ft 25,319 billion cu ft 2012 

Coal 0 thousand short tons 1,016,458 thousand short 

tons 

2012 

Capacity Puerto Rico United States Period

Crude Oil Refinery Capacity (as of Jan. 

1) 

0 barrels/calendar day 17,823,659 barrels/calendar 

day 

2013 

Total Electricity Installed Capacity 6 million kW 1,063 million kW 2012 

Net Electricity Generation Puerto Rico United States Period

Total Net Electricity Generation 20 billion kWh 4,048 billion kWh 2012 

Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Coal Net 

Electricity Generation 

20 billion kWh 2,775 billion kWh 2012 

Total Electricity Generation from 

Renewable Sources 

* 508 billion kWh 2012 

 » Hydroelectric * 276 billion kWh 2012 

 » Other Renewables 0 billion kWh 232 billion kWh 2012 

Production Facilities Puerto Rico

Major Coal Mines None

Petroleum Refineries Shell Chem Yabucoa Inc (Yabucoa)

Major Non-Nuclear Electricity 

Generating Plants 

Aguirre (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; Arecibo (Puerto 

Rico Electric Power Authority) ; Caonillas 1 (Puerto Rico Electric 

Power Authority) ; Central Palo Seco (Puerto Rico Electric Power 

Authority) ; Costa Sur (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; Dos 

Bocas (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; EcoElectrica 

(EcoElectrica) ; Garzas 1 (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; 

Garzas 2 (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; Guayama (AES 

Puerto Rico) ; Rio Blanco (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; 

San Juan Plant (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; Toro 

Negro 1 (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) ; Yauco 1 (Puerto 

Rico Electric Power Authority) ; Yauco 2 (Puerto Rico Electric 

Power Authority)

Nuclear Power Plants None

Imports & Exports

Total Imports Puerto Rico United States Period

Crude Oil Imports 0 thousand barrels/day 9,213 thousand barrels/day 2010 

Total Petroleum Product Imports 176 thousand barrels/day 2,580 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Motor Gasoline Imports 48 thousand barrels/day 134 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Jet Fuel Imports 10 thousand barrels/day 98 thousand barrels/day 2010 

Puerto Rico Profile Page 2 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015
Economy

 » Kerosene Imports 1 thousand barrels/day 2 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Distillate Fuel Imports 28 thousand barrels/day 228 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Residual Fuel Imports 60 thousand barrels/day 366 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Liquefied Petroleum Gas Imports 4 thousand barrels/day 179 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Other Petroleum Products Imports 26 thousand barrels/day 1,572 thousand barrels/day 2010 

Natural Gas Imports 48 billion cu ft 3,138 billion cu ft 2012 

Coal Imports 1,653 thousand short tons 10,294 thousand short tons 2012

Total Exports Puerto Rico United States Period

Crude Oil Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 42 thousand barrels/day 2010 

Total Petroleum Product Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 2,311 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Motor Gasoline Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 296 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Jet Fuel Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 84 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Kerosene Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 1 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Distillate Fuel Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 656 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Residual Fuel Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 405 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Liquefied Petroleum Gas Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 164 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Other Petroleum Products Exports 0 thousand barrels/day 705 thousand barrels/day 2010 

Natural Gas Exports 0 billion cu ft 1,619 billion cu ft 2012 

Coal Exports 0 thousand short tons 126,720 thousand short tons 2012 

Distribution & Marketing

Distribution Centers Puerto Rico

Oil Seaports/Oil Import Sites Guayanilla ; Humacao ; San Juan

Natural Gas Market Centers None

Major Pipelines None

Consumption

per Capita Puerto Rico United States Period

Total Energy 98 million Btu/person 313 million Btu/person 2011 

by Source Puerto Rico United States Period

Total Energy * 95 quadrillion Btu 2012 

Total Petroleum Products 176.0 thousand barrels/day 19,180.1 thousand 

barrels/day 

2010 

 » Motor Gasoline 48.0 thousand barrels/day 8,992.7 thousand barrels/day 2010 

Puerto Rico Profile Page 3 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015
Economy

 » Distillate Fuel 28.0 thousand barrels/day 3,800.3 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Liquefied Petroleum Gases 3.5 thousand barrels/day 2,265.3 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Jet Fuel 10.0 thousand barrels/day 1,431.6 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Kerosene 1 thousand barrels/day 20 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Residual Fuel 60 thousand barrels/day 535 thousand barrels/day 2010 

 » Other Petroleum Products 26 Thousand Barrels/Day 2,135 Thousand Barrels/Day 2010 

Natural Gas 48 Billion cu ft 25,533 Billion cu ft 2012 

Coal 1,653 Thousand Short Tons 889,185 Thousand Short 

Tons 

2012 

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

by Source Puerto Rico United States Period

Total Fossil Fuels 27 million metric tons 5,270 million metric tons 2012 

Petroleum 16 million metric tons 2,269 million metric tons 2013 

Natural Gas 3 million metric tons 1,374 million metric tons 2012 

Coal 4 million metric tons 1,656 million metric tons 2012 

Analysis

Last Updated: April 16, 2015

Overview

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico consists of the easternmost islands of the 

Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Florida. The commonwealth's 

main island, Puerto Rico, has coastal plains, sandy beaches, and a forested and 

mountainous interior, with the highest peak exceeding 4,000 feet. Rivers flowing 

down the mountains offer hydropower potential. The tropical marine climate has 

little seasonal variation; temperatures average about 80 degrees Fahrenheit all 

year. The hurricane season runs from June to November. The population is 

concentrated on Puerto Rico, with smaller populations on Vieques and Culebra. 

There are smaller uninhabited islands scattered around the main island. The 

commonwealth’s population has been close to 4 million, but it is decreasing. 

Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, and emigration, primarily to the U.S. mainland, 

increased in the recent recession.

Agriculture, mainly sugar cane, dominated Puerto Rico's economy until the middle of the 20th century. Although rum is 

still produced, sugar cane is no longer raised in Puerto Rico, and agriculture has become a minor part of the economy. 

Manufacturing leads the private sector, with industries that include pharmaceuticals and medical devices, electronics, 

aviation, and renewable energy. Manufacturing has been attracted to Puerto Rico in part by special federal and

commonwealth tax benefits. Tourism is also important to the economy, as is the islands' government, which employs 

nearly one in three workers.

Puerto Ricans 

use less than 

two-fifths the 

energy per 

capita that 

mainland 

Americans use.

Puerto Rico Profile Page 4 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015
Puerto Rico produces no conventional fuels. Like most Caribbean islands, the commonwealth relies heavily on imported 

petroleum to meet its energy needs. On average, the islands' residents use much less energy than mainland consumers. 

Typically, Puerto Rico's energy intensity is slightly more than two-thirds of U.S. energy intensity, and the territory's energy 

consumption per capita is less than two-fifths of U.S. consumption.

Petroleum

About four-fifths of the energy used in Puerto Rico comes from petroleum. The islands neither produce nor refine 

petroleum, so all petroleum products are imported, shipped in principally through the ports of San Juan, Guayanilla, 

Fajardo, and Ponce. The last of Puerto Rico's five petroleum refineries, located at Yabucoa, was shut down in 2009, 

joining four other island refineries that were closed between 1992 and 2005. Storage and shipping facilities on the 

Yabucoa site continue to be used as a refined products terminal. Residual fuel oil comprises about one-third of Puerto 

Rico’s imports and motor gasoline about one-fourth. Other petroleum products imported include jet fuel, distillate fuels, 

and small amounts of liquefied petroleum fuels and kerosene. 

The electric power and transportation sectors are the islands’ largest petroleum consumers. About two-thirds of 

petroleum-based electricity generating capacity is fired with No. 6 residual fuel oil and one-third with No. 2 diesel fuel. 

The commonwealth’s utility is considering substituting propane at two generating plants to reduce fuel costs and

emissions. Puerto Rico allows use of conventional motor gasoline. Despite the commonwealth's low total energy 

consumption, Puerto Rico's per capita petroleum consumption is about 70% of the U.S. average, primarily because of its 

dependence on residual fuel oil and diesel fuel for two-thirds of the islands' electricity. 

Natural gas

Puerto Rico does not produce natural gas. All natural gas is imported as liquefied 

natural gas (LNG) through the Peñuelas terminal and regasification facility at 

Guayanilla Bay on the southwestern coast. The facility was built to supply the 

adjacent 540-megawatt EcoEléctrica generating plant. LNG is imported mainly 

from Trinidad and Tobago. Natural gas is consumed only in electricity production, 

and Puerto Rico's per capita natural gas consumption is less than one-sixth of the 

U.S. average. However, LNG imports are increasing to support the Puerto Rico 

Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) plans to convert oil-fired generating stations to 

dual-fuel capability with natural gas, in order to lower fuel costs and meet federal 

emissions standards. The first conversion, the Costa Sur (South Coast) station in 

Guayanilla, is being supplied with natural gas from the Peñuelas terminal. That 

terminal is also planning a truck loading facility so that LNG can be used in 

transportation.

PREPA plans originally called for a pipeline to take natural gas from the Peñuelas terminal to the north coast, where 

three PREPA oil-fired generating stations are located. But public opposition arose to routing the pipeline through Puerto 

Rico’s rugged central mountains, and the plan was dropped after officials found the terminal could not handle all of 

PREPA's expected natural gas needs. PREPA has now contracted for installation of a floating terminal with regasification 

capability four miles offshore from the Aguirre generating station on the southern coast. PREPA has considered 

transporting natural gas from the Aguirre terminal to its three north coast generating plants or building a second LNG 

terminal on the north coast. 

Coal

Puerto Rico produces no coal. The island has one coal-fired electricity generating plant, at Guayama. The plant uses 

circulating fluidized-bed combustion and began operation in 2002. Typically, 1.6 million short tons of coal are imported 

annually from Colombia to supply the 454-megawatt plant. Ash from coal combustion is recycled on site into a partially 

solidified aggregate that is used in asphalt and concrete for road construction and other applications.

Puerto Rico is 

increasing LNG 

imports to 

displace 

petroleum in 

electricity 

generation.

Puerto Rico Profile Page 5 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015
Electricity

Puerto Rico's electricity is supplied by PREPA, a government agency that owns 

the electric distribution system for the main island, Vieques, and Culebra, as well 

as all but two generating stations. PREPA (in Spanish, Autoridad de Energía 

Eléctrica, or AEE) was founded in the 1920s as a government irrigation system, 

but its responsibilities grew over the years to encompass island electrification. 

Puerto Rico has been obtaining two-thirds of its electricity from petroleum, 

generated mainly at six PREPA stations with steam turbines, combustion turbines, 

and/or combined cycle technology. The balance of PREPA’s power supply was 

almost evenly divided between natural gas and coal generation, provided by two 

independent power producers, plus a small fraction from hydroelectric generators. 

In 2013, with the Costa Sur conversion, natural gas supplied 28% of electricity, 

and petroleum supplied 55%.

High world petroleum prices have driven typical Puerto Rico power prices to two to 

three times the U.S. average, and PREPA has planned to add natural gas capability at its five largest petroleum-burning 

plants. The first natural gas conversion, at the Costa Sur (South Coast) station in Guayanilla, is operating, but other 

conversions depend on construction of LNG import terminals and natural gas distribution infrastructure. Plans are 

proceeding for conversion of PREPA’s largest generator, Aguirre, to use LNG supplied by a floating off-shore terminal. 

But PREPA, faced with a high debt load and a difficult island economy, is considering conversion to propane as a faster 

way to reduce fuel costs and emissions at its two San Juan-area plants, San Juan and Palo Seco.

Puerto Rico, the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. federal agencies are exploring the potential for connecting the 

isolated island grids with each other and with other Caribbean islands, with an eye toward a possible Caribbean-wide 

grid. A wider grid could lower costs and enable the use of more renewable energy. PREPA typically gets nearly half its 

electricity revenues from commercial sector consumption and slightly more than one-third from residential consumption. 

Per capita, Puerto Rico's electricity consumption is about two-fifths the U.S. average. 

Renewable energy

Puerto Rico has enacted a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard requiring PREPA to get 12% of its electricity from 

renewable sources starting in 2015, scaling up to 15% by 2020 and 20% by 2035. Technologies meeting the standard 

include hydroelectric, solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, geothermal, biomass including municipal solid waste, and ocean and 

tidal energy generation. In 2011, only about 1% of Puerto Rico's electricity came from renewable energy sources, all from 

hydroelectricity. Puerto Rico has 21 hydroelectric generating units, which were built beginning in 1915 and are sited on 

reservoirs that often supply drinking and irrigation water as well as electricity. 

To meet the renewable electricity standard, PREPA is focusing on wind, solar, and 

waste-to-energy projects. The utility has signed long-term power purchase 

agreements with renewable energy developers for about 1,000 megawatts of 

renewable capacity The first of those utility-scale renewable energy projects 

began operating in 2012. A 24-megawatt solar PV plant at Guayama, and a 26-

megawatt solar PV plant at Loiza initiated operations. A 95-megawatt wind farm at 

Santa Isabel became both Puerto Rico's first operating wind generator and the 

largest wind facility in the Caribbean. A 23-megawatt wind project at Punta de 

Lima, Naguabo, also started up in 2012. More than 400 megawatts of solar PV are 

in development, and, in 2014, PREPA renegotiated contracts for six large-scale 

solar projects to reduce power purchase costs and to require energy storage 

equal to 30% of project capacity. Some 250 megawatts of wind power are also in 

The cost of 

imported 

petroleum has 

driven Puerto 

Rico power 

prices to more 

than twice the 

U.S. average.

Puerto Rico is 

focusing on 

wind, solar, and 

waste-to-energy 

projects to fill its 

renewable 

energy portfolio.

Puerto Rico Profile Page 6 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015
development, although studies to date show Puerto Rico has limited potential for large-scale wind projects. 

Taking advantage of the tropical sun, Puerto Rico has become a U.S. leader in distributed solar applications, including 

solar hot water heaters and PV. The government has used weatherization assistance programs to install more than 

11,000 solar hot water heaters. Those appliances, along with tax benefits to small-scale PV electricity projects, have 

reduced electric demand by more than 40 megawatts.

No municipal solid waste or other waste-to-energy facilities have yet been built, but PREPA has signed more than a 

dozen power purchase agreements with developers. Many of those facilities have run into local opposition, but waste-toenergy projects have taken on new urgency since the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board issued orders in 2014

that could shut many of the island's landfills. For the longer term, Puerto Rico has been exploring the use of biofuels, 

primarily those derived from agricultural wastes, and is investigating technologies that could harvest energy from the 

waves, currents, and ocean depths surrounding the island.

Other Resources

Energy-Related Regions and Organizations

• Petroleum Administration for Defense District (PADD): 6

Other Websites

• Public Service Commission, Comision de Servicio Publico

• Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Departmento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales

• Puerto Rico Energy Affairs Administration, Administracion de Asuntos Energeticos

• Weatherization Assistance Program, Energy Affairs Administration, Administracion de Asuntos Energeticos

• Family Socioeconomic Development Administration, Administracion de Desarrollo Socioeconomico de la Familia

• Puerto Rico Infrastructure Financing Authority

• Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Data Center - Federal and State Incentives and Laws

• DSIRE - Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)

• National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)

• National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)-Issues and Research - News Highlights: Issues and Research 

- Energy

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)-Dynamic Maps, Geographic Information System (GIS) Data and 

Analysis Tools - Maps

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Maps, Imagery, and Publications - Maps

• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

• Fondo de Energi-a Verde (Green Energy Fund)

• United States Department of Health and Human Services - Administration for Children and Families - Low Income

Home Energy Assistance Program

Email suggestions for additional Puerto Rico website resources to: states@eia.gov.

Puerto Rico Profile Page 7 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015
Puerto Rico Profile Page 8 of 8

http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=RQ 7/15/2015