With several units out of commission, the Cuban Electrical Union announced this Sunday that power outages are expected in various regions across the country due to a shortfall in generation capacity. According to an informational note published on the social media platform Facebook, at 07:00 hours, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 2340 MW, compared to a demand of 2100 MW. Although the entire system was in service at that time, it is estimated that peak demand will exceed the available capacity.
The estimated availability during peak hours is 2640 MW, but the projected demand is 2950 MW, resulting in a 310 MW shortfall. This imbalance could lead to up to 380 MW of service interruption during peak demand, increasing the likelihood of power outages.
Power Generation Challenges
Currently, unit 1 of the Santa Cruz Thermal Power Plant (CTE), the unit of the Antonio Guiteras CTE, unit 2 of the Felton CTE, and unit 5 of the Rente CTE are out of service due to malfunctions. Additionally, there are limitations in thermal generation amounting to 469 MW, along with 41 distributed generation plants that are out of service due to fuel shortages, affecting a total of 204 MW.
To meet demand, it is expected that the unit of the Guiteras CTE will be reintegrated with 240 MW and that distributed generation engines, which have exceeded their maintenance hours, will be utilized, contributing an additional 60 MW.
On Saturday, service was interrupted multiple times, with a maximum disruption of 951 MW at 20:30 hours. The energy crisis seems unending. Just last Friday, the Havana Electric Company reported the need to increase power outages in the capital to four hours due to a significant generation deficit.
According to the published text, customers associated with Blocks #3 and #4 in the city will face "emergency" power cuts of four hours daily, specifically between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
The situation worsened with the sudden shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras plant, expected to last at least seven days. The management of the country's largest generating plant stated in a post that during the following week, technicians would "use every minute to work on the cleaning and maintenance of other equipment that also needs it."
Cuban Power Outages: Causes and Solutions
In light of the ongoing energy crisis in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to better understand the situation.
Why are there frequent power outages in Cuba?
The frequent power outages in Cuba are due to a combination of factors, including outdated infrastructure, lack of maintenance, fuel shortages, and a significant shortfall in generation capacity.
What measures are being taken to address the power generation shortfall?
Measures include reintegrating units that are currently out of service, utilizing distributed generation engines beyond their maintenance cycles, and performing necessary maintenance on key equipment.
How long are the power outages expected to last?
The duration of power outages can vary. Specific outages are expected to last at least four hours daily in certain areas, but the overall energy crisis has no clear end in sight.