Wyeth Puerto Rico became the first to install a windmill to generate energy on the island as part of a wind and solar pilot program to improve energy efficiency at its Guayama pharmaceutical and consumer products plants.

A 42-foot-tall windmill and 52 photovoltaic plaques are the first phase of the pilot project. Wyeth invested $100,000 to $130,000 on both systems, which have a combined generating capacity of 12 kilowatts per hour (kWh).

Wyeth engineers already started the second phase, a one-year study of the area’s wind patterns. “Using the wind as energy, we have generated approximately 60 kWh of energy daily. The data we are collecting will allow us to determine the wind’s frequency and speed, among other elements. The next step is to conduct a viability study where we will determine how much of an expansion we will make in terms of acquiring systems that generate alternative energy,” said engineer Antonio Otaño, executive director of site infrastructure & development at Wyeth Guayama.

Regardless, Wyeth isn’t considering disconnecting from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) grid anytime soon, or in the future, according to Otaño.

“Currently, the return on investment of this type of equipment isn’t really attractive, but we decided to invest in this pilot project because we want to understand how these systems work and explore potential benefits because trends indicate energy prices will continue to rise,” Otaño said. The monthly energy consumption in Wyeth Guayama’s manufacturing plant is 10 million kWh.

This isn’t the first energy-efficiency plan Wyeth has carried out, Otaño said. “Through a series of small initiatives, we reduced our energy consumption 7% to 10% in 2008,” Otaño said. In addition, Wyeth has installed sensors that turn off the lights in empty rooms and turns them on when someone walks in.