During the celebrations for the July 26th festivities, authorities in Villa Clara unveiled at least four new solar-powered charging stations in the central province. Among these is the country's first rapid and ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging station, operated by the private microenterprise, Solguara.
Solguara's facility, located five kilometers along the highway out of Santa Clara, stands out as it operates completely independently from the National Electric System, being powered entirely by photovoltaic solar panels.
The station offers two levels of service—Rapid Charging and Ultra-Rapid Charging—with connectors compatible with various international standards, as reported on July 29th by the Facebook page La Energía al Día.
The pricing at the station reflects Cuba’s economic reality: charging for cell phones, fans, and rechargeable lamps is free, whereas car charging with a personal charger costs 1,000 Cuban pesos, and using the station’s charger is priced at 0.80 CUP per kilowatt.
Expanding Solar Infrastructure in Santa Clara
The other three inaugurations fill out a map of new energy infrastructures distributed across different districts of the city.
In the Sandino neighborhood of Santa Clara, the microenterprise Leos established a "solinera," or solar station, with 10 kilowatts of installed capacity, 18 solar panels, and 20 kilowatts of battery backup. It offers free charging for cell phones, fans, and cooking appliances.
In the José Martí district, the microenterprise Alemanes Express launched another 10-kilowatt station, providing electric vehicle charging, mobile device charging, and cooking facilities, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Villa Clara Electromechanical Company set up a six-kilowatt container in the Ciro Redondo district, available during the same hours for cooking and device charging.
Addressing the Energy Crisis
The Sandino neighborhood, where Leos' solinera is located, has been severely impacted by the province's electricity crisis, with residents experiencing over 112 consecutive hours without power starting July 7, 2026—more than five days without electricity.
The emergence of "solineras"—a Cuban term combining "solar" and "gas station"—is a decentralized response to the country's most severe energy crisis in decades.
Santa Clara launched Cuba's first solinera on April 5th in the Virginia district, constructed in just nine days with 56 solar panels, 30 kilowatts of power, and 60 kilowatt-hours of storage.
The National Electric System has experienced eight total blackouts in 18 months and continues to face significant generation deficits, leading to frequent outages that sometimes exceed 24 hours in various areas.
The situation deteriorated further from January with the suspension of Venezuelan crude oil shipments and the halting of Mexican oil exports due to sanctions pressure from the Trump administration.
Nationwide Expansion and Policy Support
This model is spreading across the island. Matanzas plans nine collective charging points, Havana announced a station in Vedado, Holguín has already opened its facility, and over 15 are under construction in Guantánamo.
In tandem, Cuba approved a policy in early August exempting imported electric vehicles with renewable charging stations from taxes and tariffs, a move that strengthens the electric mobility ecosystem supported by these installations.
FAQs about Cuba's New Solar Charging Stations
What makes Solguara's charging station unique?
Solguara's charging station is unique because it operates entirely off the National Electric System, powered solely by photovoltaic solar panels, and offers both rapid and ultra-rapid charging options.
How does the pricing work at the solar charging stations?
Charging for small devices like cell phones and fans is free. However, charging vehicles with a personal charger costs 1,000 Cuban pesos, and using the station’s charger is priced at 0.80 CUP per kilowatt.
Where are other solar charging stations being developed in Cuba?
Other solar stations are being developed in regions like Matanzas, Havana, Holguín, and Guantánamo, with plans for further expansion across the island.