Ramiro Valdés, one of the historical figures of the regime, inaugurated the photovoltaic park (PFV) La Barbarita this Saturday in the municipality of Consolación del Sur in Pinar del Río, during another day of blackout across the island.
La Barbarita, connected to the National Electric System (SEN) since the end of April, is the first of four parks that are to be built in Pinar del Río, local press reported, without mentioning any timelines.
The park was set up in four months thanks to Chinese capital and has a lifespan of 25 years.
Since April 26, it has generated 1,173 MWh for the National Electroenergy System, which represents a significant saving of over 300 tons of fossil fuel, according to the authorities.
However, it has not reached its full performance due to dust and other environmental factors, even though the report states that its structures can withstand maximum winds of over 300 km/h.
The opening of the solar park in Pinar del Río adds to the launch of similar facilities in other provinces over the past few months, in a national context of aging thermoelectric plants, postponed maintenance, and scarce fuel, where the contribution of renewable energy accounts for about 5% of the country's energy matrix.
However, these sites 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, with no possibility to meet nighttime demand, when the highest consumption occurs.
Blackout Saturday in Cuba
Despite the Guiteras entering the National Electric System (SEN), this Saturday the Electric Union (UNE) reported that they will continue to face a critical energy deficit situation.
At 7:00 am this Saturday, the availability of the national electricity system was only 1810 MW against a demand of 2840 MW, resulting in a capacity shortfall of 1089 MW. By noon, a shortfall of 1040 MW is expected.
The main incidents in the system include the outage due to a malfunction of unit 2 at the Felton thermoelectric plant (CTE), as well as maintenance tasks on four other generating units at the CTEs in Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, Guiteras, and Renté.
In addition, the UNE reports 397 MW out of service due to thermal limitations, along with a significant additional impact from a lack of fuel, which has left 65 distributed generation plants inactive, resulting in an estimated loss of 458 MW.
For the peak nighttime hours, a partial recovery is forecasted with the start-up of Guiteras (200 MW), the entry of unit 6 at the Nuevitas power plant (100 MW), and the recovery of 70 MW from diesel plants currently halted due to a lack of fuel.
Still, the estimated availability will be 2180 MW against a maximum demand of 3350 MW, which would result in a deficit of 1170 MW. The UNE anticipates an impact of up to 1240 MW during that period.
On the other hand, the 11 new photovoltaic solar parks in the country contributed 1,131 megawatt-hours (MWh) to the system, a contribution insufficient to alleviate the overall deficit.
Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Parks and the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What impact does the La Barbarita solar park have on the energy crisis in Cuba?
The La Barbarita solar park contributes to the National Electric System (SEN) with 1,173 MWh since the end of April, which represents a savings of over 300 tons of fossil fuels. However, its impact is limited due to the lack of batteries to store the generated energy, which prevents meeting the nighttime demand when consumption is higher.
Why do blackouts continue in Cuba despite the new solar installations?
Power outages in Cuba persist due to a significant energy deficit, with insufficient availability compared to demand. The contribution of new solar parks is not enough to alleviate the overall deficit, as renewable energy accounts for only about 5% of the national energy matrix. The Cuban electrical system faces structural problems, aging thermoelectric plants, and a critical lack of fuel.
What challenges do solar parks face in Cuba?
Solar parks in Cuba face several challenges, including the lack of batteries for energy storage, which limits their real-time usage capacity during the day. Additionally, environmental issues such as dust affect the performance of solar panels. Although they are designed to withstand strong winds, production remains insufficient to compensate for the overall energy crisis.
What is China's role in the development of solar energy in Cuba?
China has been a key player in the development of solar energy in Cuba, providing capital and technology for the construction of solar parks. Chinese companies such as Hangzhou Duojia Technology Co. Ltd have participated in the construction of these parks, supplying solar panels and lithium batteries. This collaboration is part of an agreement to expand the use of solar energy on the island, although concerns remain regarding financing and the actual impact of these projects.
What are the expectations for the future of renewable energy in Cuba?
The Cuban government has ambitious expectations for renewable energy, planning to install 2,000 MW of solar power by 2030, with the first phase of 1,000 MW scheduled for 2025. However, the success of these plans will depend on improvements in the electrical infrastructure and energy storage solutions. Currently, public expectations are low due to the lack of tangible results and the persistence of power outages.
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