On Saturday, Cuba's Electric Union officially announced the opening of the "Hoyo Colorado II" solar park, which joins the National Electric System (SEN) as part of the government's broad initiative to boost renewable energy sources across the island. Located in Matanzas province, this new solar park is part of a nationwide strategy aiming to build over 90 solar plants by 2030, a move intended to inject some optimism among a population wearied by relentless power outages.
The timing of its launch coincides with a particularly challenging period for the nation, where prolonged blackouts continue to severely disrupt the daily lives of millions. Simultaneously, similar projects are being rolled out in other provinces like Cienfuegos, Pinar del Río, Villa Clara, and Ciego de Ávila. Official media have highlighted Ciego de Ávila as a leader in solar energy usage, claiming that more than half of its midday energy demand is met by solar parks, including the "Carolina" park.
Despite these claims, residents of Ciego de Ávila express doubt on social media, pointing out that daily power outages and issues with water and food supply persist. Experts argue that wind energy is expensive and unsustainable on the island. The recently inaugurated "Mal Tiempo" park in Cienfuegos has been touted as a "decisive step" towards energy diversification, yet critics note that most of these projects lack storage systems, rendering their nighttime impact negligible.
While there is broad acknowledgment of the urgent need to transition to clean energy, both experts and citizens agree that Cuba's energy crisis cannot be resolved with solar plants alone. It requires continuous investment, maintenance of the electrical grid, backup infrastructure, and transparent information sharing. Additionally, the centralized distribution of energy remains a significant issue: many users report that electricity generated by these parks in interior provinces is often redirected to Havana, exacerbating territorial inequality in access to power.
Understanding Cuba's Renewable Energy Challenges
Why are Cubans skeptical about new solar parks?
Cubans remain doubtful because despite the inauguration of new solar parks, they continue to face daily power outages and other infrastructural problems, indicating that these projects alone are insufficient to solve the energy crisis.
What are the main criticisms of Cuba's solar energy projects?
Critics of Cuba's solar energy projects point out the lack of storage systems, rendering these plants ineffective during nighttime, and the unequal distribution of generated electricity, which often prioritizes Havana over other provinces.