Cuba will experience this Saturday, July 26, one of the most critical blackout days of the summer, with an electric deficit exceeding 1,600 megawatts (MW), according to reporting by the Electric Union (UNE).
The impacts will extend throughout the country and are expected to continue in the coming hours.
At 7:00 am, the available generation was only 1,930 MW against a demand of 3,160 MW, resulting in an initial deficit of 1,259 MW.
Conditions are expected to worsen during the afternoon peak hours, when consumption is projected to increase to 3,650 MW, while the available capacity is estimated at 2,090 MW, potentially leading to an impact of up to 1,630 MW, according to forecasts from the state-owned company.
The UNE explained that the main causes of the energy collapse are multiple: 362 MW of conventional thermal capacity are limited due to faults, while another 773 MW are out of service due to fuel shortages, including 86 distributed generation plants (733 MW) and 5 engines on the floating platform of Regla (40 MW).
This Friday, the situation was also severe, with impacts that began in the early morning and reached a critical point at 9:20 PM, when the demand exceeded the available capacity by 1,753 MW.
The UNE indicated that the severity of the event was greater than expected, due to the fact that unit 5 of the Mariel thermoelectric plant (CTE) did not come online, combined with higher than estimated consumption.
In the midst of this energy crisis, the 23 new photovoltaic solar parks generated a total of 2,685 megawatt-hours (MWh) on Friday.
At the peak of solar radiation, these parks contributed up to 458 MW of power, a significant figure compared to the low available thermal capacity, but it was not enough.
In Havana, the service interruption lasted 18 hours. According to the UNE, the maximum impact was 56MW at 9:20 PM and service was restored at 3:51 AM on Saturday.
The UNE expects to slightly improve energy availability for the peak demand period this Saturday with the commissioning of unit 5 at the Mariel CTE (60 MW) and the recovery of 100 MW from distributed generation engines.
Still, the energy balance remains highly negative, and no immediate solution is anticipated.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What is the main cause of blackouts in Cuba?
The main cause of blackouts in Cuba is the deficit in electricity generation due to breakdowns in thermoelectric plants, lack of fuel, and limitations in distributed generation. Despite efforts to incorporate solar energy, it is not sufficient to meet the current demand.
What is the impact of the energy deficit on the daily lives of Cubans?
The energy deficit causes prolonged blackouts that affect both households and essential sectors such as food production, healthcare, and basic services. These interruptions are particularly hard to endure amid the extreme heat of the Cuban summer.
What measures is the Electric Union taking to mitigate the energy crisis?
The Electric Union is attempting to recover some generation units through repairs and the introduction of engines into distributed generators. However, these measures are insufficient to address the chronic energy deficit the country is facing.
Why isn't solar energy enough to solve the blackouts in Cuba?
Despite the incorporation of new photovoltaic solar parks, solar energy fails to offset the deficit in electricity generation due to the magnitude of the issue. The capacity for solar generation is limited in comparison to the high demand and the constraints of conventional sources.
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