Puerto Rico - Solar and Wind Contractor Certification
If you want to install solar panels or wind turbines in Puerto Rico, you must hire an EAA-certified installer—only certified professionals are legally permitted to do these installations. To find a certified installer, you can check the Puerto Rico Green Energy Incentives website, which publishes the official list of approved contractors.
To become certified to install PV systems in Puerto Rico, you must be a licensed electrician or engineer and complete at least 30 hours of approved PV training covering Puerto Rican codes and solar fundamentals (or pass NABCEP exam plus 4 hours of local-code training, or complete 30 hours of U.S.-based training plus 4 hours of Puerto Rican-specific training). To install wind turbines, you must be a licensed electrical engineer and complete at least 20 hours of approved wind training. Certifications are valid for four years; PV installers renew by completing 3 hours of continuing education on PV systems.
The Energy Affairs Administration (EAA) certifies solar and wind installers under Act No. 248 (solar regulations adopted October 2008) and subsequent wind regulations (January 2010) to ensure system eligibility and public safety. The agency reviews applications within 30 days and maintains a public registry of certified installers. Only licensed electricians/engineers with specified training (30 hours for PV, 20 hours for wind, plus Puerto Rican code instruction) may be approved, and certifications expire after four years unless renewed with continuing education credits.
Program details
- Program ID
- 3257
- Last updated
- 12/18/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial installers/contractors
- Technologies
- solar photovoltaics wind (all) wind (small)
Program 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installed by certified installers in order to be eligible for the newly established tax credits (that have since been repealed).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.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- amiranda@aae.gobierno.pr
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
