The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) has reported that Monday, April 21, could mark a new peak in the nation's power outages, with the potential for disruptions reaching up to 1,858 MW during peak demand times. This would represent the highest figure recorded in recent years, amid the ongoing collapse of the national power system.
According to the official release from the UNE, as of 7:00 a.m., power generation was only at 1,527 MW, while demand surged to 2,700 MW, resulting in an immediate shortfall of 1,190 MW. By midday, the deficit is projected to increase to 1,350 MW, potentially peaking at 1,858 MW by evening if current conditions persist.
Official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso highlighted on social media that the power deficit for this Monday is one of the highest in recent years. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to bring malfunctioning units back into the National Electric System (SEN), particularly the first block of the Felton thermoelectric plant, expected to rejoin the grid by Tuesday.
It's important to note that on February 12, the SEN faced a critical situation with a record shortfall of 1,779 MW, slightly lower than the 1,870 MW initially estimated by the UNE.
Operational Challenges and Resource Shortages Cripple the SEN
The report outlines severe operational issues across various thermoelectric plants in the country:
- Damaged Units: CTE Mariel (Unit 5), CTE Nuevitas (Unit 5), and CTE Felton (Units 1 and 2).
- Scheduled Maintenance: Santa Cruz (Unit 2), Cienfuegos (Units 3 and 4), Renté (Units 5 and 6).
- Thermal Limitations: 262 MW currently out of service.
- Fuel Shortages: 65 distributed generation plants are offline, affecting 466 MW. Additionally, 78 MW are unavailable due to a lack of lubricants.
Solar Energy's Minimal Impact
The UNE reported that the eight new solar photovoltaic parks generated a mere 906 MWh on Sunday, an insignificant amount compared to the SEN's demand, which exceeds 3,400 MW during peak hours.
Prolonged Blackouts Continue to Plague Cuba
On Sunday, power outages persisted for 24 hours, with a peak disruption of 1,767 MW at 8:30 p.m., coinciding with peak national consumption. Conditions showed no improvement overnight into Monday, leaving the population enduring widespread and lengthy blackouts nationwide.
While there is an expectation to recover 125 MW from distributed generation by peak hours, the ongoing energy crisis remains a significant daily hurdle for Cubans, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to a failing national power system, damaged and poorly maintained thermoelectric plants, and significant fuel shortages.
How significant is the impact of solar energy on Cuba's power grid?
Currently, solar energy has minimal impact on Cuba's power grid, contributing only a small fraction of the total energy demand, which exceeds 3,400 MW during peak times.
Are there any efforts to improve the power situation in Cuba?
Efforts are underway to repair and reintegrate malfunctioning power units into the National Electric System, but a fast resolution to the crisis remains unlikely.