Tesla has used its solar panels and batteries to restore reliable electricity at San Juan’s Hospital del Niño (Children’s Hospital), in what company founder Elon Musk calls “the first of many solar+battery Tesla projects going live in Puerto Rico.”
The project came about after Puerto Rico was hit by two devastating and powerful hurricanes in September, and Musk reached out about Tesla helping.
Musk’s company announced its success in getting the hospital’s power working again less than three weeks after Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello tweeted on Oct. 6, “Great initial conversation with @elonmusk tonight. Teams are now talking; exploring opportunities.”
The hospital’s new system allows it to generate all the energy it needs. The facility has 35 permanent residents with chronic conditions; it also offers services to some 3,000 young patients. As for who is paying for the power system, the head of the hospital said that for now, it’s a donation — and that after the energy crisis is over, a deal could make it permanent.
The news of restoring permanent power at the hospital comes as millions of people in Puerto Rico continue to rely on generators for electricity. As of Oct. 25, the Electric Power Authority reported that its power service was at 25 percent. The task of rebuilding Puerto Rico’s power grid is expected to take months and to cost as much as $5 billion.
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