In Villa Clara, the number of solar charging stations, or "solineras," has reached 50, providing essential services to approximately 5,000 families each day amidst the ongoing electrical crisis. These facilities, according to official reports, aim to mitigate the impact of frequent power outages.
Each station serves over 100 individuals daily, as reported by Armando Hernández Pedroso, the provincial director of the National Office for the Rational Use of Energy (Onure), in the state-run newspaper Granma. These solineras are strategically located across the province's 13 municipalities, prioritizing areas hardest hit by power cuts.
Hernández previously acknowledged that the primary criterion for selecting these locations was the presence of communities experiencing outages lasting 20 hours or more each day. At these sites, residents can cook food and charge cell phones and rechargeable lamps without charge. However, charging electric scooters, tricycles, and cars incurs a fee.
Onure's director has expressed plans to increase the number of these stations to 60 by the end of 2026. By the end of August, Villa Clara had 46 solineras, with four more added in just two weeks.
Private Sector's Role in Solar Charging Solutions
This growth highlights the significant role private entrepreneurs play in addressing the crisis. The first solinera in both Villa Clara and the country was launched on April 4 in Santa Clara by the Gomate Local Development Project, constructed in just nine days.
While these initiatives are primarily driven by private micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the official narrative often frames them as part of the state's energy crisis response strategy. This contradiction was apparent in July when Susely Morfa González, the Communist Party's first secretary in Villa Clara, praised the opening of a private solinera run by entrepreneur Leandro Prada Santana, attributing the success to the state-owned Electric Company.
Impact of the Energy Crisis Across Cuba
The surge in solineras, a term combining "solar" and "gas station," represents a decentralized response to Cuba's most severe energy crisis in decades. This crisis has worsened since January due to halted Venezuelan crude shipments and reduced Mexican oil exports under pressure from Trump administration sanctions.
In addition to Villa Clara, Guantánamo operates five solineras and plans to expand to 30 locations, while Holguín inaugurated its first station in June, though pricing controversies arose among users.
This year, Cuba has experienced multiple partial and total disconnections from the National Electric System.
Understanding Villa Clara's Solar Charging Stations
What are solineras and how do they work?
Solineras are solar charging stations that provide essential services such as food cooking and charging of electronic devices. They are designed to alleviate the impact of power outages by utilizing solar energy.
Who operates the solineras in Villa Clara?
While the official narrative includes solineras in the state's crisis response, many are developed and operated by private entrepreneurs and MSMEs, highlighting the role of the private sector in addressing the energy crisis.
Why is there a fee for charging vehicles at solineras?
Charging vehicles such as scooters and cars incurs a fee due to the higher energy demand compared to smaller devices like phones and lamps, which are charged for free.