Puerto Rico - Solar and Wind Contractor Certification

July 18, 2020

Summary

In October 2008, the Energy Affairs Administration (EAA) of Puerto Rico adopted regulations for the certification of photovoltaic (PV) systems and installers in response to the passing of Act No. 248, which required that PV systems be certified and installed by certified installers in order to be eligible for the newly established tax credits (that have since been repealed). With the passing of this regulation, only certified installers may install photovoltaic (PV) systems in Puerto Rico. In January 2010, additional regulations were passed that required wind turbine installers to be certified in order to install wind systems as well.

SOLAR
In order to become an EAA-Certified PV Installer, applicants must:

Be a licensed professional electrician or electrical engineer (with proper, up-to-date credentials); AND
Provide proof that he/she has taken and passed at least 30 hours of specified PV training in Puerto Rico (on topics such as Puerto Rican norms regulating sale and installation of PV, basic concepts of electricity applicable to PV, fundamentals and application of solar energy, PV installation, among others) EAA may publish a list of approved courses in the future; OR
Provide proof that he/she has passed the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) exam, even without specified training, plus 4 hours of training on applicable Puerto Rican laws, regulations, and codes; OR
Provide proof that he/she has taken and passed at least 30 hours of specified PV training in the United States, plus 4 hours of training on applicable Puerto Rican laws, regulations, and codes.

The EAA will review and make a determination (approved and certified, additional information required, or denied) of the application within 30 days. Certification is good for four (4) years and can be renewed as long as the installer completes three hours of continuing education on PV panels and systems.

WIND
In order to become an EAA-Certified Wind Turbine Installer, applicants must:

Be a licensed electrical engineer (with proper, up-to-date credentials); AND
Provide proof that he/she has taken and passed at least 20 hours of specified wind training in Puerto Rico (on topics such as Puerto Rican norms regulating zoning, wind turbine construction, tower construction and installation, how to estimate generation and siting, basic concepts of electricity applicable to wind, fundamentals and application of wind energy, installation, among others)--EAA may publish a list of approved courses in the future.

Certification is good for four (4) years.

The Puerto Rico Green Energy Incentives "Resources & Forms" web page posts the lists of certified installers.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	Puerto Rico
Incentive Type:	Solar/Wind Contractor Licensing
Web Site:	https://irecusa.org/workforce-development/workforce-strategies-solutions/solar-licensing-database/
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar Photovoltaics Wind (All) Wind (Small)

Authorities

Name:	C3268 (2008) Act No. 248
Date Enacted:	08/10/2008
Effective Date:	08/10/2008

Name:	Reglamento 7796 (Certification of Renewable Energy Systems - In Spanish)
Date Enacted:	01/19/2010

Contact

Name:	Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica (AEE)
Address:	PO Box 364267 San Juan PR 00936
Phone:	(787) 521-3434
Email:	info@prepa.pr.gov

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.