The National Electric System (SEN) is once again facing a severe crisis this Tuesday, with power disruptions exceeding 1,500 MW and scheduled outages affecting multiple districts in Havana. The country's energy situation remains dire, with Monday's electricity service experiencing interruptions throughout the day, peaking at 1,801 MW at 8:10 PM, coinciding with the highest demand period. This figure surpassed projections due to unexpected higher consumption, according to the Cuban Electric Union (UNE).
Scheduled Outages in Havana
The Havana Electric Company has announced a schedule of power cuts as a strategy to cope with the deficit. The outages are organized as follows:
Block 2: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Block 1: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Block 3: 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Block 4: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Limited Capacity and Electricity Shortage in Cuba
As of 7:00 AM on Tuesday, SEN's availability was 1,687 MW, against a demand of 2,780 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 1,136 MW due to insufficient generation capacity. Daytime disruptions could reach 1,200 MW. The situation worsens during the evening peak, with a forecast demand of 3,500 MW and only 1,927 MW available, creating a deficit of 1,573 MW. This could lead to disruptions of up to 1,643 MW during that time.
Breakdowns, Maintenance, and Fuel Shortages
The energy deficit is partly due to several unavailable generation units. Reported outages include units 6 and 8 at CTE Mariel and unit 2 at CTE Felton. Maintenance work affects unit 2 at Santa Cruz, units 3 and 4 at Cienfuegos, and unit 5 at Renté. Additionally, 58 distributed generation plants are offline due to fuel shortages, impacting 307 MW, while 186 MW are down because of a lack of lubricants.
Solar Power: A Limited Relief
The eight newly installed photovoltaic solar parks contributed 1,010 MWh the previous day. While this represents a significant renewable energy input, it remains insufficient to meet national demand. Authorities anticipate the partial activation of some units during the nighttime peak to reduce the load, including the return of unit 6 at CTE Mariel with 100 MW and the recovery of an additional 140 MW from distributed generation engines and unit 1 at Felton.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to a significant energy deficit caused by unavailable generation units, maintenance activities, and shortages of fuel and lubricants.
How is solar energy contributing to Cuba's electricity needs?
Solar energy, through eight newly established photovoltaic parks, contributed 1,010 MWh recently. However, while it helps, it is not enough to fully meet the country's electricity demand.
What measures are authorities taking to address the energy deficit?
Authorities plan to partially activate some energy units during peak times, including the return of unit 6 at CTE Mariel and additional distributed generation efforts, to alleviate the energy shortfall.