Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) reported this Sunday that the National Electric System (SEN) continues to experience critical levels of deficit in its generation capacity, with service outages occurring 24 hours a day and a forecasted deficit of 1,417 MW for the peak this afternoon.
Volume of impact and main causes
During Saturday’s shift, the SEN experienced its highest interruption at 7:40 PM, when production fell by 1,682 MW.
That impact, greater than anticipated for that time, was primarily due to two factors: the unexpected increase in electricity demand and the emergency shutdown of unit 5 at the Mariel thermal power plant (CTE).
The blackout lasted throughout the night, leaving thousands of homes without service intermittently or continuously until the early hours of Sunday.
At 7:00 AM today, the UNE reported an availability of 1,840 MW against a demand of 2,550 MW, resulting in a deficit of approximately 820 MW.
For the peak daytime hours, an increase in unaddressed demand of approximately 920 MW was estimated.
Technical and operational incidents
The report from UNE outlines a series of outages and scheduled maintenance that reduce the thermal capacity of the SEN:
Emergency breakdowns:
Unit 5 of the CTE Mariel (sudden exit).
Unit 2 of the CTE Felton.
Scheduled maintenance:
Unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz.
Unit 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos.
Unit 6 of CTE Nuevitas.
Unit 5 of CTE Renté.
Additionally, there are 413 MW of thermal capacity out of service due to technical limitations inherent to aging equipment and the wear associated with continuous operation.
Fuel shortage: a persistent factor
The lack of supply of fossil fuels continues to be a burden on the stability of the National Electric System.
This weekend, 83 distributed generation plants were out of operation, which amounts to an additional 573 MW offline.
Additionally, 133 MW from the Mariel fuel power plant are halted due to fuel shortages, bringing the total affected capacity to 706 MW.
Forecast for the afternoon peak
In anticipation of the peak this afternoon, the UNE plans to recover 80 MW from diesel plants that are currently not operating and to resume the operation of the Mariel fuel power plant with its 133 MW.
With these additions, an availability of 2,053 MW is estimated against a projected maximum demand of 3,400 MW, which would result in a deficit of 1,347 MW and, consequently, scheduled outages totaling approximately 1,417 MW during peak consumption hours.
Contribution of renewable sources
The nine photovoltaic solar parks recently incorporated into the National Electrical System generated 936 MWh in the last 24 hours, a performance that does not suffice to offset the thermal and fuel deficit.
Frequently Asked Questions about Power Outages in Cuba
Why are blackouts occurring in Cuba?
Power outages in Cuba are due to a significant deficit in electricity generation capacity, caused by breakdowns in several thermoelectric units, scheduled maintenance, and a persistent fuel shortage. These factors have weakened the National Electric System (SEN), resulting in widespread service interruptions.
What are the main causes of the electricity deficit in Cuba?
The electrical deficit in Cuba results from a combination of breakdowns in generating units, maintenance of plants, and a lack of fuel. These causes are exacerbated by aging infrastructure and the country's dependence on thermal generation, which limits the capacity to respond to technical failures.
How does the fuel shortage affect the Cuban electrical system?
Fuel scarcity is a critical factor that limits the operation of distributed generation plants, which represent a significant portion of Cuba's electrical capacity. This has taken many plants offline, significantly reducing energy availability and worsening the electric deficit.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to increase energy efficiency and promote the use of renewable sources such as solar energy. However, these measures have been insufficient to mitigate the impact of the crisis, due to a lack of investment and maintenance in the existing electrical infrastructure.
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