How can Cuba build a more resilient energy system?

Building a Cleaner, More Resilient Energy System in Cuba recommends numerous ways by which domestic policy in Cuba can prioritize working towards a more sustainable, resilient grid — especially by investing in the energy transition — and ways in which international cooperation can support these goals.

What types of energy systems are covered in Cuba?

Coverage includes generation and storage systems, renewable energy installations (hydropower, solar PV, wind, biomass, ocean, and solar thermal), electrical grid history and characteristics, and an analysis of Cuba’s electrical energy resiliency.

Is Cuba's energy infrastructure in a precarious state of aging and disrepair?

The report highlights the issue that not only is Cuba’s energy infrastructure in a precarious state of aging and disrepair, but also that its entire energy system relies heavily on external aid and imported fossil fuels.

Why is the energy sector at a crossroads in Cuba?

Cuba’s energy sector is at a crossroads. The country’s mostly fossil fuel-fired energy system faces a number of longstanding and serious challenges, including breakdowns at aging power plants, decreasing fuel imports and fuel shortages, and the growing threat of climate change-related disruptions.

What happened to Cuba's largest power plant?

The collapse of Cuba’s largest power plant, Antonio Guiteras in the northwestern province of Matanzas, is behind the latest blackout. Set up in 1988, it had been undergoing extensive maintenance for days after operating all summer.

How long will it take for a Cuban thermoelectric plant to start working?

The Cuban government insisted that it would not take longer than October 19 for the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant to start operating again. Some micropower generation systems have already started to provide electricity to scattered municipalities and neighborhoods in the country.