This Saturday, Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) is grappling with a dire situation as seven thermoelectric units are out of operation, leading to an anticipated generation shortfall that could leave the island with nearly 2,000 MW less power during peak demand hours.
The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) reported that on Friday, power service was disrupted throughout the day, with a peak deficit of 2,021 MW occurring at 6:10 pm.
As of Saturday morning, the SEN's available capacity was 1,380 MW, while the demand stood at 2,350 MW, resulting in 995 MW affected due to insufficient capacity.
Forecasts for the midday hours predict a deficit of 1,100 MW.
Among the key issues limiting generation capacity are malfunctions in three units at the Máximo Gómez (Mariel), Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton), and Antonio Maceo (Renté) thermoelectric plants.
Additionally, four other units are offline due to maintenance at the Mariel, Santa Cruz, and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plants in Cienfuegos.
Compounding the problem, 532 MW are impacted by limitations in thermal generation.
Fuel shortages exacerbate the crisis: 87 distributed generation centers with 842 MW, 150 MW at the Moa Fuel Center, and 95 MW unavailable due to a lack of lubricant, totaling 1,087 MW affected by these issues.
During Saturday's peak hours, the entry of Unit 3 at the Renté plant with 45 MW and Unit 8 at the Mariel plant with 50 MW is expected, both currently in start-up phase.
With these additions, the projected capacity will be 1,475 MW against a maximum demand of 3,400 MW, resulting in an estimated deficit of 1,925 MW and an impact of 1,955 MW if current conditions persist.
The solar generation from 33 new photovoltaic parks contributed 2,790 MWh, with 502 MW being the highest power delivered during midday hours, but these figures fall short of meeting demand.
Meanwhile, Havana's Electric Company reported that on Friday, the capital experienced service interruptions for 18 hours and 44 minutes, with a peak deficit of 321 MW at 6:30 pm. The supply was restored at 2:23 am on Saturday, though several blocks remain affected due to low generation availability.
Authorities have reiterated that the outages will depend on SEN's demands, highlighting the vulnerability of Cuba's electric system and the fragility of its energy infrastructure in the face of breakdowns, maintenance needs, and fuel supply issues.
Key Challenges Facing Cuba's Electric System
What are the main reasons for the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to malfunctions in thermoelectric units, maintenance requirements, fuel shortages, and limitations in thermal generation capacity.
How is the Cuban Electric System attempting to address the shortfall?
The system plans to bring additional units online, such as Unit 3 at Renté and Unit 8 at Mariel, and is utilizing solar generation to mitigate the shortfall, despite these measures being insufficient to meet demand.