LUMA on July 8 announced the energization of three new power transformers at the Sabana Llana substations in Carolina, one of the largest in the system, Crea in Bayamón and Mora in Isabela.
The addition of this equipment in Puerto Rico strengthens critical network infrastructure and improves service reliability for nearly 782,500 customers, LUMA said.
The Sabana Llana Substation benefits more than 700,000 customers, as well as 12,000 customers associated with the Crea Substation and 70,500 customers served by the Mora Substation, contributing to strengthening the reliability of the electric service and the resilience of the grid in these communities and their surrounding areas.
“We continue to execute critical improvements to transform Puerto Rico’s electric grid. Each transformer we install strengthens the system’s ability to operate more reliably, improves voltage regulation, and increases our ability to respond to the electrical demand of the communities we serve,” said Hendzon Martinez, vice president of Transmission and Substations at LUMA.
Power transformers are essential components within electrical infrastructure. This equipment allows power to be transferred safely and efficiently between different transmission and distribution levels, helps maintain proper voltage levels, and helps reduce the risk of outages associated with aging equipment or capacity limitations, LUMA noted.
The three projects were developed through different sources of financing that allow to continue accelerating the modernization of the electrical infrastructure.
The transformer installed at the Mora Substation in Isabela was financed through funds from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), while the transformer at the Sabana Llana Substation in Carolina is part of reconstruction projects supported by funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
For its part, the transformer installed at the Crea Substation in Bayamón was financed with non-federal capital funds, which reflects LUMA’s ongoing commitment to make strategic investments to strengthen the reliability and resilience of the electric system.
“The energization of these transformers is a significant advance in the modernization of the electricity grid. These projects require years of planning, coordination, and execution, so each energized transformer is a tangible step toward a more resilient, stable, and prepared system to serve the needs of our customers today and in the future,” added Martinez.
The installation of this equipment represents one of the most complex tasks within the modernization of substations, LUMA said.
Each transformer can weigh tens of tons and requires years of planning, design, manufacturing, and specialized logistics before arriving in Puerto Rico.
The equipment is often manufactured in facilities located in distant countries and must be ordered well in advance due to the high global demand and extensive production and transportation processes.
In June 2020, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnership Authority selected LUMA Energy to operate, maintain and modernize the electricity transmission and distribution system of PREPA for fifteen years through a public-private partnership.
