In 2026, entry to dependable power continues to be a difficulty for communities throughout the globe. Puerto Rico is without doubt one of the most poignant examples of this. Final 12 months, Puerto Rico’s nationwide energy grid was unable to generate a 3rd of the electrical energy wanted to fulfill peak demand, practically a decade after the nation was hit by a devastating pure catastrophe, Hurricane Maria.
Nation-wide energy outages are an sadly widespread incidence throughout the island. The state of affairs in Puerto Rico is a living proof that dependable, renewable power is a privilege, not a assure for tens of millions of individuals.
One startup, Raya Energy, is on a mission to equalize power resilience and entry. Right here’s how.
Photo voltaic’s accessibility hole
The state of affairs in Puerto Rico is a testomony to the precariousness of accessibility to dependable, safe, inexpensive, and renewable power. Due to the extent of the facility outages, native communities have been compelled to seek out their very own options to maintain the lights on and water working. Now, 163,000 Puerto Rican households are pursuing a type of power independence. One of the vital popularly pursued avenues is solar energy.
Picture courtesy of Raya Energy
However conventional solar energy comes with its personal set of points, together with the truth that it has not been universally accessible. There are logistical, regulatory, and monetary obstacles that many wrestle to beat. Which means a plethora of underserved client segments—renters, lower-income households, and extra remotely situated properties.
Propelling the rise of distributed, modular power
Closing these gaps and leveling the taking part in area so marginalized communities can have entry to dependable and renewable power is on the coronary heart of Raya Energy’s mission. The startup’s founders, Nicole Gonzalez and Meghan Wooden, are devoted to serving to folks overcome these obstacles for a greater high quality of life, beginning with Puerto Rico.
The founders have developed a cutting-edge know-how that’s set to rewrite the way forward for solar energy for households world wide. As a substitute of being an infrastructure energy, Raya Energy relies on an strategy to solar energy know-how as an equipment. What usually takes weeks to put in now takes a number of hours, because of Raya Energy’s plug-and-play photo voltaic and battery system.
Picture courtesy of Raya Energy
Furthermore, householders aren’t beholden to outdated power infrastructure. These power methods, which transfer towards a extra decentralized strategy, have decrease upfront prices and better flexibility than conventional rooftop photo voltaic panels, slashing month-to-month utility payments, too. Households may also take Raya Energy’s know-how with them after they transfer, which means a safer, adaptable setup that higher fits their wants.
And these instruments are designed as a superb, clear backup in occasions of outages. Traditionally, diesel-fueled backup mills have been the default, however they trigger air and noise air pollution. Raya Energy’s solar-backed battery methods present clear, quiet power to assist houses when catastrophe strikes.
Trying to the Future
Whereas Raya Energy remains to be in its early levels, the solar energy startup’s future is trying brilliant. Having raised $1 million in January 2025, Gonzalez and Wooden are centered on scaling Raya Energy to assist drive Puerto Rico’s “solar and battery renaissance.” Now, Raya Energy has three methods working in California and Puerto Rico, with 13 extra upcoming deployments deliberate.
The startup’s mannequin is one primarily based on collaboration and empowering communities, with potential partnerships with NGOs and native initiatives. As a substitute of ready for the grid to catch up, firms like Raya Energy are innovating to convey energy again to the native communities that desperately want it.
Featured picture: Courtesy of Raya Energy
Disclosure: This text mentions purchasers of an Espacio portfolio firm.
