Amidst Cuba's escalating energy crisis, the Electric Union (UNE) has declared that the country's solar parks are engineered to endure hurricanes of significant intensity, including category 4 storms with winds reaching up to 142 mph. This assertion was shared on the state entity's Facebook page, referencing insights from the book "Photovoltaic Energy for Cuba" by Professor Daniel Stolik, a trailblazer in the field.
According to UNE, the solar modules across the island have undergone wind and hail resistance testing conducted by the manufacturers themselves, boasting an estimated lifespan of 25 years. The publication also highlights that these panels are strategically dispersed nationwide, theoretically preventing simultaneous damage from extreme weather events.
Key Design Features for Hurricane Resistance
Their resilience is attributed to several design elements: the panels' low height, southern inclination, row arrangement that mitigates wind impact, natural obstacles, and the terrain's topography.
Despite these alleged advantages, citizens on social media were quick to express skepticism. Comments flooded with doubts, critiques, and sarcasm, reflecting the public's long-standing distrust due to unkept promises. "I'll save this for when the first mild breeze hits, and they themselves claim the panels were damaged by the winds," one user remarked. Another questioned, "What happened to the solar park when the hurricane hit Mariel? According to TV reports, 50% was damaged, costing over a million dollars to repair."
International Standards vs. Cuban Reality
Some pointed out the contrast with international standards. An engineer noted that in countries like the United States, solar parks that survive hurricanes are built with deep concrete foundations and reinforced structures—qualities that are questionable in Cuban installations.
This discussion follows the recent opening of the La Barbarita photovoltaic park in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, amid ongoing blackouts. Yulié Salgado Barrizonte, the project's construction director, claimed that the Chinese system used is not designed for dismantling during extreme weather, and past experiences showed minimal damage after hurricanes like Ian.
Cuba's Struggling Energy Sector
Regardless of these official statements, the island's energy infrastructure remains in disarray: outdated thermoelectric plants, lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages paint a bleak picture. Photovoltaic generation contributes a mere 5% to the national energy matrix, hindered by the absence of storage systems that prevent nighttime use of daytime-generated electricity.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel has pledged a substantial improvement in energy capacity with new solar park installations, aiming for 500 MW in the first half of this year and 1,200 MW by the end of 2025. The official target is to reach 2,000 MW of solar power by 2030.
While several photovoltaic parks have been inaugurated amid the severe energy crisis, citizens continue to endure prolonged power cuts and lack concrete information on the tangible benefits of these investments. "I don't care if a hurricane takes them away; there's never any electricity anyway," a user quipped, encapsulating the sentiment of many Cubans who see this as yet another unfulfilled promise.
FAQs on Cuba's Solar Energy Amid Hurricanes
How are Cuba's solar parks designed to withstand hurricanes?
Cuba's solar parks are designed with low-height panels, southern inclination, and row arrangements to reduce wind impact. They also benefit from natural obstacles and terrain features that aid in their resilience against hurricanes.
What challenges does Cuba's energy sector currently face?
Cuba's energy sector struggles with outdated thermoelectric plants, lack of maintenance, fuel shortages, and limited solar power contribution due to insufficient storage systems, all contributing to frequent power outages.
What are the future goals for solar energy in Cuba?
Cuba aims to improve its energy capacity with plans to install new solar parks, targeting 500 MW by mid-year and 1,200 MW by the end of 2025, with a long-term goal of reaching 2,000 MW by 2030.