The last week of January started with a high electrical affectation of 1 411 megawatts during the highest consumption schedule, caused by the lack of fuel and stoppages due to breakdowns and maintenance in several thermoelectric plants.
The electricity union, attached to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, calculates for the day a maximum capacity of specific power of 1909 megawatts in the afternoon-night, for a demand that provides that it reach the 3 250 megawatts.
According to the most recent part of the UNE, among the most specific incidents are unity 2 of CTE Felton, while they receive maintenance the units in Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos and Renté.
The Cuban energy crisis is mainly due to the lack of fuel – due to the lack of currency of the State to import it – and the repeated failures in the obsolete thermoelectric plants, with decades of exploitation and a chronic investment deficit
The frequent blackouts have the Cuban economy, which contracted 1.9 % in 2023 and did not grow last year, according to estimates of the government itself. According to these figures, the GDP of the island remains below the 2019 levels.
With the aggravation of the energy crisis and the ruin of thermal plants for obsolescence and divestment, the Cuban government executes a program of investment in photovoltaic parks throughout the country, backed by China.
The official intention is that the renewable energy sources (FRE) participate in 24 % in the Cuban energy matrix in 2030, a proportion almost five times higher than the current one, a goal that had already been agreed since 2014, but that slowed down the I walk to almost stagnate.
Of the 92 photovoltaic parks contemplated by the 2012 megawatts generation project planned for the next three years by the Cuban government, this year the first 55 must be built, according to official sources.
Cuba must install this year 55 photovoltaic parks of the 92 in plan up to 2028
This first group of parks must deliver to SEN about 1 200 megawatts, to relieve the severe energy crisis suffered by the islandaccording to government claims.
According to A report of Granmathe projects have an accumulation system in batteries, of 50 megawatts, in four of the facilities. These are located in Bayamo, Cueto, the José Antonio Echeverría Technological University (Cujae) and El Cotorro, these last two in Havana.
Official reports indicate that the island currently has photovoltaic parks with a total capacity of 260 megawatts, which cover about 2 % of the annual electricity generation, which adds 5 % of other renewable sources (biomass, wind and hydraulic) .
Oncuba / EFE.
