Why Don't Cubans See Any Improvement? Skepticism Grows Over New Solar Parks

Despite the integration of new solar parks into Cuba's National Electric System, citizens have yet to experience the anticipated improvements. Prolonged and unpredictable power outages continue to plague the population. The official announcement about the "Alcalde Mayor" solar park in Cienfuegos, with an average daily output of up to 120 megawatts (MW), has sparked more frustration than optimism on social media.

On April 1st, the Electric Union (UNE) released its daily report acknowledging that electricity service had been disrupted throughout the previous day and continued into the early morning hours. During peak times, outages reached 1,536 MW, far exceeding the planned limits due to the unexpected shutdown of the Renté 6 unit and a demand that surpassed forecasts. The reported availability was 1,870 MW against a nighttime demand of 3,380 MW, resulting in an estimated shortfall of 1,510 MW.

However, it was the solar park generation figures that triggered a wave of criticism. According to the report, photovoltaic sites produced 873 megawatt-hours (MWh) throughout the day, equating to an average of about 36 MW continuously. Many Cubans expressed skepticism regarding the actual utility of this production. "Where is that electricity? Here in Mayabeque, we've been without power for over 15 hours," one user commented. Another added, "They list megawatts cumulatively, which confuses people into thinking it's a solution, but we still have the same or worse blackouts."

Several citizens also criticized what they perceive as "technical manipulation" in the presentation of information. "MW is not the same as MWh, and the UNE should be clearer about these figures," one user demanded, highlighting the public's lack of understanding as a source of discontent.

The official note from Cienfuegos claims a daily fuel savings of up to 25,000 liters due to solar generation. Nevertheless, locals assert there has been no noticeable change. "Here in Cienfuegos, we still experience blackouts lasting up to 20 hours," one resident wrote. Another sarcastically asked, "Is that park really in Cuba?"

The Misunderstanding: MW vs. MWh

A major grievance among users is the confusion between megawatts (MW) and megawatt-hours (MWh), a technical distinction not always clearly explained in official reports.

MW (megawatt): This is an instantaneous measure of power, indicating how much energy a facility can generate or consume at a specific moment. For instance, a solar park with a capacity of 20 MW can produce up to 20 MW when the sun is at its peak.

MWh (megawatt-hour): This measures accumulated energy over time. If the same park generates a continuous 20 MW for one hour, it produces 20 MWh. Similarly, generating 10 MW over two hours also results in 20 MWh.

The UNE's reports typically present solar generation data as daily accumulated MWh, but most people compare these figures to instantaneous demand measured in MW. This discrepancy has led to widespread misunderstanding and distrust. "You can't compare a total accumulated throughout the day with a specific moment's demand, like 7 PM," a commenter noted.

While solar parks offer a sustainable alternative, their capacity remains insufficient against a national demand that exceeds 3,000 MW, even in cooler months. Many warn that the situation could worsen with the onset of summer.

Cubans are not only critical of the lack of results but also of the triumphant rhetoric used to present these achievements. "Don't sell something as a solution that hardly touches the needle of the problem," one commenter suggested. Others accuse authorities of using solar projects as a smokescreen to justify the structural inefficiencies of the electric system.

Meanwhile, people continue to adapt their routines around the unpredictability of power outages. "The country is going dark, but the worst part is they're extinguishing hope too," a young woman shared on Facebook.