Cuba began the week with severe power outages across the country due to a generation capacity deficit that could exceed 1,700 megawatts (MW) during peak hours on Monday, as reported by the .
In its official statement, the state entity confirmed that the National Electric Service (SEN) was affected for 24 hours on Sunday and into the early hours of Monday. The highest impact of the previous day was recorded at 8:10 p.m., with 1,730 MW offline, coinciding with peak demand. The outage was greater than planned due to the unexpected shutdown of unit 8 at the Mariel CTE.
For this Monday, the UNE reported a availability of 1,960 MW at 7:00 a.m., against a demand of 3,225 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,290 MW from the early hours of the day. During peak hours, an availability of 2,060 MW is forecasted against an estimated demand of 3,700 MW, leading to a deficit of 1,640 MW, which could translate into impacts of up to 1,710 MW if current conditions persist.
The crisis is worsened by the limitations in thermal generation (422 MW) and the lack of fuel in 90 distributed generation plants, which keep 749 MW out of service. Only a recovery of 100 MW in distributed engines is anticipated for peak hours.
Although the country recently added 23 photovoltaic solar parks, which contributed 2,715 MWh this Sunday with a maximum power of 520 MW, renewable generation remains insufficient to compensate for the failures in the system.
In the capital, the reported that yesterday the service was interrupted at 2:01 p.m. and was restored at 6:10 a.m. this Monday, with a maximum of 123 MW affected at 8:10 p.m. For this Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, a planned block blackout schedule will be applied, which includes outages between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the schedule published by the company.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blackouts in Cuba and the Electric Deficit
Why does Cuba face such intense blackouts?
Power outages in Cuba are due to a deficit in electricity generation that can exceed 1,700 MW during peak hours. This situation is worsened by the unavailability of several generating units, postponed maintenance, constant breakdowns, and a severe shortage of fuel.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has announced the incorporation of photovoltaic solar parks and the implementation of maintenance on thermoelectric plants. However, these measures have not been sufficient to resolve the crisis, as solar generation is intermittent and does not meet nighttime demand, while thermoelectric plants continue to experience failures.
How does the fuel shortage affect the Cuban electrical system?
The lack of fuel is one of the main problems facing the Cuban electric system. It has left numerous distributed generation plants inactive, contributing to the deficit in generation capacity and the inability to meet the country's energy demand.
What is the impact of power outages on the daily lives of Cubans?
Prolonged blackouts severely impact the quality of life in Cuba, interfering with daily activities, work, and study. The uncertainty about the electricity supply causes social unrest and desperation, especially during the summer, when consumption and temperatures rise.
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