The Cuban government inaugurated on Tuesday the Las Guásimas solar photovoltaic park in the municipality of Contramaestre, with an installed capacity of 21.8 megawatts (MW) and the first connected to the National Electric Power System (SEN) in Santiago de Cuba.
According to official estimates, the site could save the country around 4.9 million dollars a year, based on the current price of a barrel of oil. Authorities also emphasized its potential to reduce pollutant emissions and advance the transition to renewable energy sources.
The installation was synchronized to the National Electric System on April 30, and it is the first of four planned in the province. The other projects are being executed in Rafael Reyes and Villa Victoria, both in the municipality of San Luis, and Anacaguita, in Contramaestre, the official newspaper Sierra Maestra specified.
The information did not specify the investment cost of the park or the estimated time to recover its financing, but it did mention that the inauguration was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, who urged to "take care of the equipment and improve professionally."
True to the script of the official paraphernalia, there was no shortage of ribbon-cutting, the presentation of Communist Party cards to “outstanding” workers, nor the acknowledgments to the Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba, along with 27 entities involved in the execution of the project, including some from the private sector. All wrapped up in a ceremony where triumphalist rhetoric once again overshadowed technical explanations and an honest acknowledgment of an energy crisis that surpasses any symbolic gesture.
The inauguration of the solar park in Contramaestre complements the opening of similar facilities in other provinces over the past few months, in a national context marked by aging thermoelectric plants, postponed maintenance, and scarce fuel, where the contribution of renewable energy accounts for approximately 5% of the country's energy matrix.
However, these installations come with a significant limitation: the lack of batteries to store the generated electricity, which means that solar energy can only be used in real time, during the day, without the ability to meet nighttime demand, when consumption is at its highest.
This is amid a deep national energy crisis, with blackouts relentlessly impacting a population burdened by daily power outages that can last over 20 hours.
Across the country, the energy deficit exceeds 1,700 MW this Tuesday, exacerbated by the unexpected outage of unit 3 of the Cienfuegos Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE), which, combined with the planned disconnection of the Antonio Guiteras CTE in Matanzas, drove the figures above projections and led to an even more severe collapse of the SEN.
The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel
Additionally, it was committed that by the end of 2025, 55 solar parks will have been built with a capacity of 1,200 MW.
The authorities have reiterated their commitment to
Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Parks and the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What is the capacity of the new solar park inaugurated in Santiago de Cuba?
The Las Guásimas solar park has an installed capacity of 21.8 megawatts. This is the first solar park connected to the National Electric Power System (SEN) in Santiago de Cuba and is expected to contribute to savings of 4.9 million dollars annually in oil imports.
How many solar parks are planned to be built in Santiago de Cuba, and when will they be operational?
Four solar parks are planned to be built in Santiago de Cuba. The first one, Las Guásimas, has been operational since April 2025. The other three are located in Rafael Reyes (San Luis), Villa Victoria (San Luis), and Anacaguita (Contramaestre), but no specific date has been provided for their launch.
How does the lack of storage batteries affect solar parks in Cuba?
The lack of batteries prevents the storage of electricity generated by solar parks, which means that solar energy can only be used in real time during the day. This limits the ability of solar parks to meet nighttime demand, which is when consumption is at its peak.
What promises has the Cuban government made regarding solar energy for 2025 and 2030?
The Cuban government has pledged to construct 55 solar parks with a capacity of 1,200 MW by the end of 2025 and to reach 2,000 MW of photovoltaic generation by 2030. However, given the structural and management limitations, the fulfillment of these promises is uncertain.
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