Cuba’s national energy authority has reported a significant yet insufficient recovery in its power generation capacity. Recent efforts have successfully restored 422 megawatts (MW) to the distributed generation network, elevating its total operational capacity beyond the 1,000 MW threshold. Concurrently, an additional 228 MW has been brought back online within the centralized generation system.
A major stride in renewable integration has been achieved with the synchronization of 778 MW of new capacity from 41 photovoltaic solar parks. These installations are now playing a pivotal role in the national grid, contributing more than 30% of Cuba’s total electricity generation during peak sunlight hours.
Despite these advancements, government officials acknowledge the persistence of a severe energy crisis. The national power system continues to operate under extreme duress, grappling with an average daily generation deficit ranging between 1,500 and 1,700 MW. The situation has deteriorated further in recent days, with the shortfall exceeding 2,000 MW.
This critical power deficit has resulted in service disruptions occurring throughout the day and night, creating widespread public dissatisfaction and inflicting substantial damage to economic activity. Authorities attribute the ongoing crisis primarily to generation instability and a critical shortage of fuel supplies for distributed generation units. Approximately 1,000 MW of potential generation capacity remains unavailable due to these fuel constraints, highlighting the deep-rooted challenges facing Cuba’s energy infrastructure.