The Cuban Electric Union acknowledged on Tuesday that while photovoltaic solar parks provide some relief from daytime power outages, they do not offer a comprehensive solution to the country's ongoing energy crisis. Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, made this statement during an appearance on Cuban state television, as shared on social media by journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso.
"Solar parks cannot end power outages by themselves," Guerra emphasized, pointing out that although solar power brings positive effects, its limitations prevent it from being the ultimate answer to the energy crisis that has plagued Cuba for years. Guerra highlighted that the eight operational solar parks are generating energy as expected, performing optimally during high solar radiation months like March and April.
According to Guerra, these parks generate around 1,000 megawatt-hours daily, which studies suggest is equivalent to reducing blackout time by about an hour. "Without the photovoltaic parks, the impact would be more severe," Guerra noted. He added that during peak daylight generation hours (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), these parks contribute between 240 and 250 MW to the national electric grid.
The Limitations of Solar Power
Nevertheless, Guerra clarified the evident limitations of this type of energy generation. It operates only during daylight hours and does not provide backup capacity for nighttime or early morning hours, when shortages are most critical. Consequently, the Cuban government is combining the expansion of solar capacity with a parallel program to restore base and distributed generation, alongside reactivating thermal plants using domestic crude oil.
During his address, Guerra announced that five new photovoltaic parks would become operational by the end of April, aiming to surpass 300 MW generated from this source. The government's ultimate goal is to reach 1,200 MW of solar generation by the end of 2025. However, he reiterated that this development alone will not resolve the underlying issue: "Resolving the outages requires increasing the generation capacity across all technologies installed in the system."
A Broader Energy Strategy
Guerra stressed that Cuba's energy program is not solely reliant on the Ministry of Energy and Mines or the Electric Union. It involves collaboration with six other ministries of the Central State Administration and the Revolutionary Armed Forces, describing it as a coordinated effort among multiple state entities to boost generation, optimize the use of domestic oil and gas, and enhance the island's energy infrastructure.
Additionally, there is an urgent need to restore 'distributed generation,' which involves installing electrical generation engines at various locations across the country. This method provides strategic advantages during meteorological events, emergencies, or central system failures, and thus should be maintained with high availability. "The government program encompasses more than just solar photovoltaics. It includes all technologies contributing energy to the national electric system," Guerra emphasized.
Public Frustration and Government's Response
These comments come amid growing public frustration as power outages persist, with some regions experiencing over 10-hour daily blackouts. Although authorities claim efforts are underway to resolve the situation, progress in installing renewable sources like solar has yet to result in significant improvements for the population.
In recent weeks, the Cuban government has heightened its public discourse on deploying solar parks as part of its energy strategy, acknowledging their limitations. In March, officials highlighted the performance of three new solar parks in Havana, Cienfuegos, and Granma, which exceeded production expectations. However, they admitted that the structural crisis of the National Electric System is worsening due to the deterioration of thermoelectric plants and limited energy storage capacity.
Following this, Minister Vicente de la O Levy cautioned that although plans are in place to install 46 solar parks throughout the year with a capacity of up to 1,000 MW, blackouts cannot be eliminated due to the critical state of the electric system, reliance on fossil fuels, and outdated technology. In April, the Cuban regime publicly reiterated that "no solar park, on its own, can resolve the deficit," stating that only the synchronization of the 92 parks planned until 2026 could alleviate the situation during peak daytime demand.
The La Sabana park in Granma was cited as an example of these limitations, as its contribution meets only 20% of the province's midday demand. Finally, President Miguel Díaz-Canel assured on Tuesday that despite ongoing blackouts, "progress" is being made in the energy program. He emphasized that the solution requires increasing generation capacity through various technologies, including the recovery of thermal plants and improving the distributed generation network.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why aren't solar parks a complete solution to Cuba's energy crisis?
Solar parks only generate electricity during daylight hours and lack backup capacity for night or early morning, when energy demand is critical. Therefore, they cannot fully address the energy shortfalls.
What is the Cuban government's strategy to tackle the energy crisis?
The strategy involves expanding solar capacity, restoring base and distributed generation, and reactivating thermal plants using domestic crude oil, alongside efforts from multiple state entities.
How are the Cuban people affected by the current energy situation?
Public frustration is rising as power outages continue, with some areas experiencing blackouts exceeding 10 hours daily. Progress in renewable energy has yet to significantly improve the situation for the population.