The Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) announced on July 23 that the National Electric System (SEN) remains in a dire state, with service disruptions persisting throughout Tuesday and into the early hours of today. The peak power shortfall occurred at 9:30 p.m. yesterday, with 1,866 MW offline, coinciding with the time of highest demand.
Power Availability and Demand
As of 7:00 a.m. on this Wednesday, the total availability of the SEN was a mere 1,730 MW, while the demand reached 3,100 MW. This resulted in a power deficit of 1,395 MW at that time. The UNE predicts that by midday, the shortage will hover around 1,280 MW.
Root Causes of the Deficit
The grim outlook is attributed to a combination of technical failures and fuel shortages. Currently, five generating units are out of service at the Energas Varadero plant and the Nuevitas, Felton, Renté, and Guiteras thermoelectric plants. Additionally, three units are undergoing scheduled maintenance at the Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté power stations. There are also thermal limitations, leaving another 257 MW out of operation.
Fuel Scarcity: A Critical Issue
The ongoing fuel shortage is exacerbating the energy crisis. At present, 92 distributed generation plants are inactive due to a lack of fuel, removing 811 MW from the grid. Moreover, five engines at the Regla barges are not operational, eliminating an additional 40 MW. In total, the SEN is losing 851 MW due to fuel shortages.
Despite the contribution from 22 new solar photovoltaic parks, which generated 1,944 MWh with a peak of 483 MW at midday, the power generation remains insufficient to meet national demand.
Outlook for Peak Hours
Looking ahead to Wednesday's peak hours, the UNE plans to bring the unit 5 of the Nuevitas power plant online, which would add 60 MW to the grid. However, even with this addition, the maximum estimated availability will be only 1,790 MW against a projected demand of 3,620 MW. This is expected to result in a deficit of 1,830 MW and an estimated impact of 1,900 MW, highlighting the system's inability to meet the country's needs.
The current situation necessitates prolonged and continuous power cuts across the entire nation, with no immediate improvement in sight. The UNE has not provided details on potential short-term solutions, leaving the population to endure several consecutive days of widespread disruptions.
Key Questions on Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the power deficit in Cuba?
The power deficit in Cuba is primarily due to technical failures in power plants and a severe shortage of fuel.
How much power is the system losing due to fuel shortages?
The system is losing 851 MW due to fuel shortages, with 92 distributed generation plants inactive and five engines at the Regla barges not operational.
Are there any new energy sources contributing to the system?
Yes, 22 new solar photovoltaic parks have contributed 1,944 MWh with a peak of 483 MW, but this is still insufficient to meet the national demand.