On Friday, June 20th, Cuba finds itself grappling with yet another energy crisis marked by widespread power outages across the nation. The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) reported that the power supply was disrupted throughout Thursday and persisted into the early hours of today. The peak impact reached 1,730 MW at 9:40 PM, exceeding previous forecasts.
As of 7:00 AM this Friday, the National Electric System (SEN) had an availability of merely 1,850 MW, falling short of the 2,980 MW demand, leading to a capacity deficit of 1,189 MW. By noon, this shortfall is expected to increase to 1,250 MW. The situation is projected to worsen during the evening peak period, with UNE estimating a maximum demand of 3,500 MW against an available 1,910 MW, resulting in a 1,590 MW shortfall. If conditions remain unchanged, a 1,660 MW deficit is anticipated during peak hours.
The country is currently dealing with numerous technical failures and restrictions. The Mariel Thermoelectric Plant's unit 5 and Felton's unit 2 are out of service due to breakdowns. Additionally, essential units at Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, Diez de Octubre, and Renté plants are undergoing scheduled maintenance, with thermal generation limitations summing up to 456 MW.
Compounding the issue are challenges in distributed generation. A total of 79 plants are offline due to fuel shortages, resulting in a loss of 574 MW, and another 100 MW are inactive due to a lack of oil, contributing to a total impact of 679 MW in this sector.
While the reintroduction of Mariel's unit 5 with 60 MW might provide some relief during the night, its effect will be minimal given the scale of the deficit. On the renewable energy front, the country's 16 new photovoltaic solar parks collectively generated 1,765 MWh, with a maximum output of 382 MW delivered at midday.
The energy crisis in Cuba shows no signs of resolution in the short or medium term. The combination of breakdowns, maintenance, fuel shortages, and logistical problems continues to leave millions of Cubans without electricity for extended periods each day.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the current energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is primarily due to technical failures, scheduled maintenance of key units, fuel shortages, and logistical challenges.
How are renewable energy sources contributing to Cuba's power supply?
Renewable energy, including solar power, plays a limited role in Cuba's energy supply. The country's 16 new solar parks recently generated a total of 1,765 MWh with peak power output of 382 MW.
What measures are being taken to address the power shortages?
Efforts include reintroducing units like Mariel's unit 5 to alleviate some of the load, although these measures offer minimal relief compared to the overall deficit.