The proliferation of solar panels on the roofs of homes and buildings in Havana, largely driven by prolonged blackouts and the regime's inability to revitalize its outdated energy infrastructure, has prompted Cuban authorities to address the need to regulate these installations and establish clearer criteria to avoid risks.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Environment (Citma), Armando Rodríguez Batista, shared an analysis on Facebook this Wednesday titled "Solar Panels: Between Necessity and Order", in which he described the expansion of these systems as a "historic opportunity", but warned that it must be pursued carefully to avoid creating new problems.
A day later, the Cuban News Agency (ACN) revisited the topic and noted that Rodríguez emphasized the need to regulate the installation of solar panels on the roofs of homes and buildings in Havana, a phenomenon that has grown significantly in recent months.
The analysis released by the head of Citma includes the evaluations of architect Dania González Couret, a professor at the Technological University of Havana (CUJAE) and founder of the National Board of Cuba Solar, who celebrated that more and more citizens are taking advantage of rooftops in cities to generate electricity.
"I am happy because I have been saying for a long time that large photovoltaic parks on the outskirts of cities are taking up land for food cultivation. In the cities, there are rooftops, plenty of rooftops," he stated.
According to studies conducted in El Vedado, properly positioning the panels can have a double benefit: producing electricity and protecting homes from heat.
These structures reduce the thermal load on the building and can decrease the need for ventilation and air conditioning.
González explained that, given the conditions in Cuba, the panels achieve better performance when installed at an angle of between 15 and 30 degrees to the horizontal.
However, the specialist warned that the rapid growth has also led to installations made without adequate technical preparation.
"It is a business, and many people charge for it without having all the knowledge. Things are being done incorrectly," he warned.
The problem can become more significant in multifamily buildings, old properties, and historic areas, where certain installations require permits and must ensure that the structures can safely support the equipment.
For now, authorities assure that there will be no fines for those who already have systems installed. According to the analysis released by the minister, the goal is to provide technical guidance and unify the requirements to prevent owners from encountering different criteria depending on the municipality.
For González, the current energy crisis could ultimately lead to at least one positive transformation if the expansion of domestic solar energy is implemented safely and does not fade away once the electricity supply improves.
"It's never too late if the outcome is positive; what is needed is to take full advantage of it, do it well, and follow through to perfect it, and not to abandon this practice when the electricity supply situation improves," he concluded.
The rise of these systems is directly related to power outages. González noted that many Cubans have opted to install battery-powered autonomous systems, as systems that are solely connected to the grid stop supplying electricity when an outage occurs.
Autonomy, however, comes at a cost: batteries significantly increase the expense of systems, have a limited lifespan, and also create environmental issues when they need to be replaced.
The growth of private panels occurs in a Cuba where the ability to escape blackouts increasingly depends on the economic capacity of each family.
For those who can afford them, solar systems allow for the operation of refrigerators, fans, lights, and other equipment during prolonged power outages.
The Government has also sought to promote domestic generation. Resolution 114/2026 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices established a rate of 90 CUP for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) delivered to the National Electric System by residential and non-residential producers, in addition to exempting income from that sale from service taxes.
The possibility of selling electricity to the grid requires, however, certain technical conditions, including systems compatible with interconnection and bidirectional meters capable of measuring both the electricity consumed and the electricity delivered.
Incentives for acquiring these technologies have also been expanded. In August, the government extended the customs tax exemption for importing photovoltaic solar systems, their components, and other equipment related to renewable energy until December 31, 2027.
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