A fire broke out on Monday at a solar photovoltaic park under construction in the municipality of Abreus, Cienfuegos. The blaze was swiftly extinguished by on-site workers and the local fire department. The flames erupted around midday in a "limited area" at the site located in Alcalde Mayor, where a batch of panels awaiting installation was stored, as reported by Salvador Vera Hernández, the investment director of the Cienfuegos Electric Company, to the local newspaper 5 de Septiembre.
Vera confirmed that the fire was contained "in time" and no human lives were lost. He noted that aside from the panels, "no other resources were affected," although he did not specify the extent of the damages. "Our workers acted promptly upon detecting the flames, immediately employing fire extinguishers, nearby sand piles, and activating a water tanker before the firefighters, who were far from the site, arrived," explained Vera, who oversees the construction of the photovoltaic park.
He indicated that the damages caused by the fire are currently being assessed while experts investigate potential causes. Despite the incident, Vera assured that construction would continue unabated, "with ongoing assembly of tables and new panel installations," aiming to meet the delivery deadline set for December 20.
"We even have a time margin to replace the equipment affected by the fire," he stated. The Alcalde Mayor solar park, located in Abreus, utilizes technology from China, similar to two other solar parks being developed in Cienfuegos. Collectively, these projects are expected to contribute approximately 78 MW to the electricity grid after synchronization, offering "energy coverage possibilities for the entire province," according to official Cuban media outlet Cubadebate during a site visit by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel in October.
At that time, Vera mentioned that each solar park in Cienfuegos has a capacity of 21.87 MW, spans around 35 hectares, and comprises over 1,600 panels, as reported by the Cuban Presidency website. The report anticipated that all three facilities would be integrated into the National Electric System (SEN) within the first half of the upcoming year.
In 2023, China donated over $114 million to establish 22 photovoltaic parks in Cuba, supporting the Cuban government's efforts to lessen reliance on fossil fuels amid a prolonged energy crisis. The regime aims to transform the country's energy landscape, which currently depends on fossil fuels for 95% of its needs. The national energy transition plan envisions that by 2030, "37% of its energy mix will come from renewable sources, even though it currently accounts for a mere 5% and investments in this area are minimal," the EFE news agency reported.
Key Questions About Cienfuegos Solar Park Fire
What caused the fire at the Cienfuegos solar park?
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation by experts, as the fire erupted in a limited area of the park.
Were there any casualties reported from the fire?
No human lives were lost as a result of the fire, according to Salvador Vera Hernández, the investment director of the Cienfuegos Electric Company.
Will the fire affect the construction timeline of the solar park?
The construction timeline remains unchanged, and the project is expected to meet its delivery deadline of December 20, despite the fire.