Wood Mackenzie and Let’s Share The Sun Launch Solar Project In Puerto Rico To Support Women And Children Escaping Domestic Violence

Wood Mackenzie, a global provider of energy research, data and consultancy, has partnered with the nonprofit Let’s Share the Sun Foundation to launch a new project aimed at expanding access to solar power in underserved communities. Together with support from other donors, they have funded the installation of a solar power and energy storage system at a key shelter in Puerto Rico that supports women and children escaping domestic violence.

The project was officially inaugurated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on International Women’s Day on March 8, 2026. The shelter, which accommodated 79 residents in 2024—48 women and 31 children—and provided assistance to more than 5,000 vulnerable community members that same year, will now benefit from reliable and affordable renewable energy. The new system is expected to help the shelter save around $700 each month, allowing more funds to be directed toward recovery programs and essential services for survivors of domestic abuse.

The installation includes a 20.7 kW DC solar system designed to meet all of the shelter’s electricity needs. It also features a 45 kWh energy storage unit that will ensure uninterrupted power even during grid failures, a crucial benefit in a region often affected by outages. According to Luke Lewandowski, Vice President of Global Renewables Research at Wood Mackenzie, Puerto Rico’s unstable electricity grid places communities under constant strain. He emphasized that stable, clean energy can help strengthen community resilience and provide the safety and stability needed for women and children to rebuild their lives.

Several partners and leaders were present at the event, including Abby Hopper, Walter Pedreira, Lucas Barreto, Gloria Vazquez, Maria Buzos, Nancy Brennan-Jordan, and Cámilie Rivera-Dueño. The shelter is operated by Casa de la Bondad. The project directly supports the three pillars of Let’s Share the Sun’s mission, which focuses on using solar energy to improve health, support women, and expand education. For this shelter, the installation ensures reliable power for healthcare coordination, provides energy security for women and children seeking safety, and offers dependable electricity for educational programs, including a specialized learning initiative for children aged zero to six.

Wood Mackenzie’s involvement reflects the goals of its internal Thrive program, which aims to create positive social impact in the communities where the company operates. This year marks the fifth time a global delegation of Wood Mackenzie employees has traveled to Puerto Rico to participate in solar projects. After the ceremony, the delegation will visit another community on the island to help install additional residential solar and storage systems in partnership with Let’s Share the Sun and local collaborators.

According to Brennan-Jordan, the ongoing partnership between the two organizations is helping bring energy resilience to communities most in need, especially women affected by domestic violence. Since the partnership began in 2022, the collaboration has led to the installation of hundreds of solar panels and numerous energy storage systems to support nearly 50 homes with medically vulnerable residents. From 2023 to 2026, the partnership has also delivered solar power and storage solutions to the domestic violence shelter each year, strengthening long-term support for vulnerable populations.

Lewandowski added that these energy installations have consistently demonstrated the powerful impact of clean electricity. Beyond lowering costs, they offer a sense of security, independence and stability for families and communities facing difficult circumstances. He noted that Wood Mackenzie remains committed to helping energy-challenged communities become not only brighter but more resilient and self-sufficient through access to reliable renewable power.