Where Innovation Meets Community
Turning innovation into real world solution for a more resiliant Puerto Rico
Turning Retired Batteries into Community Assets
Puerto Rico has a unique opportunity to transform retired hybrid and electric vehicle batteries into valuable community resources. With growing renewable energy adoption, increasing energy resilience needs, and an expanding fleet of electrified vehicles, the island is well positioned to demonstrate how battery reuse can support both sustainability and economic development.
Rather than viewing retired batteries as waste, TECRE's circular battery economy initiative explores how these batteries can continue creating value through energy storage, workforce development, and community-based applications. By extending the useful life of battery materials, this approach helps reduce environmental waste while creating opportunities that strengthen local communities and support long-term resilience.The initiative connects battery reconditioning, workforce training, and community energy solutions into a model that benefits residents, businesses, and the environment. Through collaboration and innovation, Puerto Rico can demonstrate how retired batteries can become assets that generate lasting social, economic, and environmental impact.
Puerto Rico's Unique Opportunity
Puerto Rico is uniquely positioned to lead the transition toward resilient and sustainable energy systems. The island combines abundant renewable energy resources, a growing need for energy resilience, expanding energy storage opportunities, and an emerging supply of retired hybrid and electric vehicle batteries.These conditions create a unique opportunity to demonstrate how innovation, workforce development, and battery reuse can support both economic growth and community resilience.
Renewable Energy Potential
5 kWh of solar energy per square meter daily - enough to support significant solar power generation
Energy Resilience
Freequent hurricanes and grid disruptions highlight the need for reliable energy systems.
Energy Storage
Supports renewable energy, improves grid reliability, and provides backup power during outages.
Renewable Energy Potential
Retired batteries can be reused, repurposed, and responsibly recycled.
Creating Value Beyond Batteries
A circular battery economy creates benefits that extend far beyond energy storage. By reusing and repurposing retired batteries, communities can gain access to new educational opportunities, workforce training programs, and emerging careers in the clean energy sector. At the same time, battery-based energy storage can help strengthen local infrastructure, improve energy resilience, and support reliable power during outages and emergencies.For Puerto Rico, this approach represents an opportunity to create economic value while reducing waste and maximizing the use of existing resources. By connecting innovation, education, and community needs, retired batteries can become a catalyst for sustainable development and long-term community impact.
TECRE Long-Term Vision
TECRE envisions a future where retired batteries are no longer viewed as waste, but as valuable resources that support community resilience, innovation and workforce development. Through collaboration among researchers, industry partners, and local communities, TECRE aims to help establish a model for circular battery stewardship that can be replicated beyond Puerto Rico.