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The Electric Union (UNE) began testing with load this Saturday for the first energy storage system using batteries, installed at the electrical substation in the municipality of Cotorro, in Havana.
The system is part of a project that includes four energy storage facilities in the country, with a total capacity of 200 megawatts (MW), primarily aimed at stabilizing the electrical grid and reducing the so-called automatic frequency trips in the National Electrical System (SEN), reported on Facebook by official journalist José Miguel Solís.
Each of the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) will have a storage capacity of 50 MW.
These systems allow for the accumulation of energy and its release when the system requires it, particularly during times of fluctuation or shortfall in generation.
According to the technical explanation provided by Solís, the BESS are designed to regulate the primary frequency of the electrical system and react in fractions of a second to variations in the grid, injecting or absorbing energy to prevent fluctuations that could cause blackouts or malfunctions in generating plants.
Technology will also allow for more efficient utilization of energy produced by solar parks, by storing excess generated during the day and releasing it when demand is higher or when renewable generation decreases.
According to the report itself, for every 1,000 MW of electricity generated by photovoltaic parks, at least 100 MW of regulation through batteries is required to ensure the stability of the system.
Authorities anticipate that these systems will help to more effectively integrate solar energy into the electrical grid, particularly in installations located in capital municipalities such as Guanabacoa, Cotorro, and Boyeros.
In the province of Holguín, which has been presented by the authorities as a “cutting-edge laboratory” for this technology, the batteries would allow for the absorption of excess solar energy and its release when demand requires, the source emphasized.
However, the report itself acknowledges that these investments do not automatically eliminate the electricity generation deficit that the country faces, although they could help reduce the risk of total system collapses and mitigate the impact of massive blackouts by stabilizing the grid's frequency.
The installation of these storage systems began in August 2025 at four electrical substations across the country, including Cueto 220, Bayamo 220, Cotorro 220, and Habana 220.
The deployment of batteries comes amid one of the most severe energy crises in recent years in Cuba.
In recent days, the generation deficit has significantly exceeded 1,800 MW, forcing the implementation of prolonged blackouts across much of the national territory. This was compounded by a new collapse of the National Electric System that occurred on Wednesday, following the outage of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in Matanzas due to a boiler malfunction.
Prolonged power outages have led to nighttime citizen protests in several neighborhoods of Havana over the last two days. Residents took to the streets in areas of municipalities such as Marianao and Arroyo Naranjo, where they lit bonfires and banged pots and pans to express their dissatisfaction with the power cuts that have persisted for much of the day and night.
According to the latest report from UNE, during the peak evening hours this Sunday, national demand could reach 3,050 MW compared to an estimated availability of 1,195 MW, resulting in a deficit of about 1,855 MW.
The crisis is due to multiple structural factors, including the deterioration of thermal power plants, lack of maintenance in generating facilities, and a shortage of fuel that limits the country's capacity to produce electricity.
In that context, the government has focused on accelerating the installation of solar parks and associated technologies, such as battery systems, with the expectation of partially stabilizing the National Electric System (SEN).
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