Ramiro Valdés inaugurates another solar park while the blackouts continue
Ramiro Valdés, one of the historical figures of the regime, inaugurated the La Barbarita photovoltaic park (PFV) on Saturday in the Pinar del Río municipality of Consolación del Sur, during another day of blackouts on the island.
La Barbarita, connected to the National Electric System (SEN) since the end of April, is the first of four parks that are to be built in Pinar del Río, local press reported, without mentioning any deadlines.
The park was built in four months thanks to Chinese capital and has a lifespan of 25 years.
Since April 26, it has generated 1,173 MWh for the National Electric Energy System, which implies a significant saving of more than 300 tons of fossil fuels, said the authorities.
However, it has not reached its maximum performance due to dust and other environmental factors, even though the report states that its structures can withstand maximum winds of over 300 km/h.
The inauguration of the solar park in Pinar del Río is added to the opening of similar facilities in other provinces in recent months, within a national context of aging thermoelectric plants, postponed maintenance, and scarce fuel, where the contribution of renewable energy accounts for about 5% of the country’s energy matrix.
However, these sites are established with a significant limitation: the lack of batteries to store the generated electricity, which means that solar energy can only be used in real-time, during the day, without the ability to meet nighttime demand, when consumption is at its highest.
Blackout Saturday in Cuba
Despite the Guiteras entering the SEN, this Saturday the Electric Union (UNE) reported that they will continue to face a critical energy deficit situation.
At 7:00 am this Saturday, the availability of the SEN was only 1,810 MW against a demand of 2,840 MW, resulting in a capacity deficit of 1,089 MW. By noon, a deficit of 1,040 MW is expected.
The main incidents of the system include the outage due to a breakdown of unit 2 at the Felton thermoelectric power station (CTE), as well as maintenance work on four other generating units at the Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, Guiteras, and Renté power plants.
In addition, the UNE reports 397 MW out of service due to thermal limitations, along with a significant additional impact from a lack of fuel, which keeps 65 distributed generation plants non-operational, resulting in an estimated loss of 458 MW.
A partial recovery is forecasted for the nighttime peak hours with the start-up of Guiteras (200 MW), the entry of unit 6 at the Nuevitas CTE (100 MW), and the recovery of 70 MW in diesel plants currently halted due to a lack of fuel.
Even so, the estimated availability will be 2180 MW against a maximum demand of 3350 MW, which would result in a deficit of 1170 MW. The UNE anticipates an impact of up to 1240 MW during that time.
On the other hand, the 11 new photovoltaic solar parks in the country contributed 1,131 megawatt-hours (MWh) to the system, an insufficient contribution to alleviate the overall deficit.
Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Parks and the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What impact does the La Barbarita solar park have on the energy crisis in Cuba?
The La Barbarita solar park contributes to the National Electric System (SEN) with 1,173 MWh since the end of April, which represents a saving of over 300 tons of fossil fuel. However, its impact is limited due to the lack of batteries to store the generated energy, which prevents meeting the nighttime demand when consumption is higher.
Why do blackouts continue in Cuba despite the new solar installations?
Blackouts in Cuba persist due to a significant energy deficit, with insufficient availability to meet demand. The contribution of the new solar parks is inadequate to alleviate the overall deficit, as renewable energy accounts for only about 5% of the national energy matrix. The Cuban electrical system faces structural problems, aging thermoelectric plants, and a critical shortage of fuel.
What challenges do solar parks face in Cuba?
Solar parks in Cuba are facing several challenges, including the lack of batteries for energy storage, which limits their capacity for real-time use during the day. Additionally, environmental issues such as dust affect the performance of the solar panels. Although they are designed to withstand strong winds, production remains insufficient to compensate for the overall energy crisis.
What is China’s role in the development of solar energy in Cuba?
China has been a key player in the development of solar energy in Cuba, providing capital and technology for the construction of solar parks. Chinese companies such as Hangzhou Duojia Technology Co. Ltd have participated in the construction of these parks, supplying solar panels and lithium batteries. This collaboration is part of an agreement to expand the use of solar energy on the island, although concerns remain regarding the financing and the actual impact of these projects.
What are the expectations for the future of renewable energy in Cuba?
The Cuban government has ambitious expectations for renewable energy, planning to install 2,000 MW of solar power by 2030, with a first phase of 1,000 MW scheduled for 2025. However, the success of these plans will depend on improvements in electrical infrastructure and energy storage solutions. Currently, public expectations are low due to the lack of tangible results and the persistence of blackouts.