The exports of solar equipment from the United States to Cuba soared during the first seven months of 2026, amidst an energy crisis that has prompted homes and businesses on the island to seek alternatives to survive the blackouts.
Between January and July, the United States sent Cuba $6.3 million in solar cells and modules, a 1,070% increase compared to all of 2025, when exports totaled only $538,000, according to U.S. Census data cited by Bloomberg.
The increase contrasts with the behavior of China, which remains by far the largest supplier of solar technology to Cuba.
Until the end of July, the Asian giant had exported 19.5 million dollars in solar equipment to the island, but this figure represents a drop of 83% compared to the total in 2025, according to data collected by BloombergNEF.
China also sent a new donation of 5,000 solar systems in September, but Bloomberg emphasizes that the growth of shipments from the United States has become an increasingly important avenue for Cubans trying to keep their phones charged, power basic equipment, or sustain small businesses during power outages.
One such case is that of Ramiro Llovet, owner of La Campana, a venue for events that operates in his home in Havana and hosts everything from small celebrations to activities for up to 350 people.
For years, Llovet and his wife relied on a small generator to cope with power outages. The duration and frequency of the outages prompted them to invest in their own solar system.
The entrepreneur shared that last year he began gathering the components and only found the 5-kilowatt-hour lithium batteries he was looking for on Amazon. He first sent them to a family member in Miami, and they were later transported to Cuba through a shipping service.
After investing around 10,000 dollars, the business operates almost entirely on energy produced by its own system.
"It was a significant investment, but it was clear that this is not a problem that will be resolved in the near future," said Llovet.
The growth of these imports occurs while the Donald Trump administration maintains strong sanctions against the Cuban regime. Bloomberg notes, however, that certain goods may continue to arrive for private entrepreneurs on the island within the existing exceptions to the embargo.
For John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, the increased use of ports in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana to send solar technology to Cuba is significant.
"It's somewhat ironic that Cuba could become an important market for U.S. renewable energy exports," he noted, especially considering the White House's less favorable policy towards that energy sector.
The expansion of private systems coincides with one of the most critical periods for the National Electroenergetic System. The lack of fuel and the recurrent breakdowns of aging thermal power plants have forced the country to increasingly rely on solar generation during daylight hours.
The Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío assured Bloomberg that during the last eight months, he has only had electricity in his home for two to three hours a day. The official attributed part of the crisis to U.S. pressure on international fuel suppliers.
The Cuban government assures that 144 solar parks are now operational with a total capacity of 1,418 megawatts, which is approximately equivalent to one-fifth of the national electricity generation, according to figures provided by Miguel Díaz-Canel. The president also stated that the private sector currently produces around 20% of the energy it consumes.
However, experts warn that solar expansion alone does not solve the structural problems of the system.
Jorge Piñón, a researcher at the Energy Institute of the University of Texas, pointed out to Bloomberg that Cuba is rapidly increasing its photovoltaic capacity, but without an adequate storage strategy.
The country practically has no large-scale batteries connected to the grid, which means that the electricity generated by solar parks has limited use during the day and cannot sufficiently compensate for the lack of generation at night.
"Solar energy is a good investment as long as it is done intelligently, something that unfortunately is not being done right now," Piñón stated.
The researcher also recalled that, due to the characteristics of the Cuban electrical system, solar energy cannot completely replace the large thermoelectric plants responsible for providing stable base generation.
The increasing installation of panels in homes and businesses had already led Cuban authorities to propose the need to "regulate" the boom of domestic solar systems, due to concerns about the safety of the installations, their urban integration, and the lack of uniform technical criteria.
At the same time, the regime has expanded incentives to facilitate the entry of these technologies. In August, it maintained the exemption from Customs Tax for the importation of photovoltaic solar systems and other equipment related to renewable energy sources until December 31, 2027.
The Resolution 180/2026 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices allows the import of solar panels, batteries, inverters, and other essential components without that tax, as well as solar water heaters, photovoltaic pumps, small wind turbines, and other equipment related to renewable energy.
For individuals, those goods are also not counted towards the maximum value authorized for non-commercial imports, although they must be declared separately to Customs.
The measure also included tax benefits for certain investments and for the marketing of these technologies, at a time when more and more Cubans are turning to independent systems due to the inability of the state electric system to ensure a stable supply.
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