Artemisa's Limited Relief: Solar Parks Only Slightly Reduce Lengthy Power Outages

Even under optimal conditions—with every solar park operating at full capacity—Artemisa can only manage to decrease its daily power outages from 22 hours to 18. This was confirmed by the provincial Electric Company as reported in the state-run newspaper El Artemiseño, which, instead of calming residents, ignited a wave of outrage on social media.

Yamirka Fernández Pérez, who heads the Load Dispatch Office at the Electric Company, explained that the province has an installed capacity of 140 MW in solar parks, yet faces a peak daytime demand of approximately 170 MW.

During peak sunlight hours, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., these parks can supply around 70 MW to the area, provided the National Electric System (SEN) allows it, according to the report.

The gap between the 140 MW installed and the actual 70 MW reaching the province did not go unnoticed. "The lie is obvious; if the park's capacity is 140 MW, the actual generation would be 20 or 30% less in real conditions, not half. Effective solar radiation lasts until about 6 p.m., not 4," a commenter criticized.

Another online user directly questioned the figures: "I see a math problem. If 140 MW is installed and the province consumes 170 MW, how come when it's scorching outside, the panels only deliver 70 MW? Do the math or explain where the other 70 MW are."

Energy Shortfalls and Operational Challenges

The situation worsens after 4:00 p.m. when the parks cease to contribute power. At that point, the province operates with a baseline of just 35 MW—primarily reserved for hospitals and essential services—alongside a surplus of about 7 MW, which allows for rotating power in certain circuits during the night, every six to eight days.

When the SEN limits direct use of parks for load balancing reasons, conditions deteriorate further: the province is left with those basic 35 MW and implements two-hour rotations for each of the 122 provincial circuits, except those including hospitals and water pumping systems.

Fernández Pérez acknowledged the system's fragility without offering any hope for improvement: "This has been the way since June 11. Sometimes we've been able to supply power to residents, other times not, always depending on system availability."

Structural Issues in Cuba's Electrical System

The irony of having installed parks but being unable to utilize their energy because of SEN restrictions sparked one of the most severe critiques. "Having energy that can't be used because the SEN restricts it and yet we keep installing parks...," wrote a frustrated user. Another summarized the problem with a metaphor: "Our province's parks are like potato crops: they're grown here but mostly go to Havana."

Residents reported that areas like San Cristóbal endure entire days without power. "I don't know which territory San Cristóbal belongs to; there's no electricity here," noted an internet user. The skepticism toward official statistics was encapsulated in another comment: "Math is scarce: for lies, they multiply, and for everything else, they subtract and divide as they see fit."

This scenario underscores a fundamental contradiction in Cuba's electrical system: most solar parks in Cuba lack large-scale storage systems, preventing energy transfer to nighttime hours. For months, the National Electric Union has reported daily deficits approaching or exceeding 2,000 MW. Cuba has already experienced seven total system collapses this year.