Cuba's Electricity Deficit Surpasses 1,500 MW Amidst Widespread Blackouts and Fuel Shortages
Key Insights
Cuba's National Electric System faces a severe electricity deficit, projected to exceed 1,500 MW this Sunday, leading to widespread blackouts.
The deficit is primarily caused by critical outages at major thermoelectric plants, ongoing maintenance, and a significant lack of fuel affecting distributed generation units.
Despite contributions from 18 new photovoltaic solar parks, their output is currently insufficient to mitigate the substantial generation shortfall.
The energy crisis severely impacts daily life, disrupting essential services and economic activity across the island.
Havana, Cuba – Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) is grappling with a severe electricity deficit, projected to exceed 1,500 megawatts (MW) this Sunday, July 6, leading to widespread and prolonged blackouts across the island. The Electric Union (UNE) reported an estimated peak impact of 1,535 MW, signaling a deepening energy crisis with significant ramifications for the nation's economy and daily life.
The ongoing power disruptions follow a challenging Saturday, where service was interrupted for 24 hours in some areas, with the highest impact reaching 1,641 MW at 11:00 PM. As of Sunday morning at 7:00 AM, the SEN's availability stood at 2,085 MW against a demand of 3,000 MW, resulting in a 1,020 MW capacity deficit. Projections for Sunday's peak hours anticipate a deficit of 1,465 MW, potentially reaching 1,535 MW if current conditions persist.
The primary drivers of this acute deficit are multifaceted, stemming from critical outages and systemic limitations within the thermal generation fleet. Unit 2 of the Felton Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) remains out of service, a significant blow to generation capacity. Additionally, three blocks across the CTE Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté facilities are undergoing scheduled maintenance, further constraining supply. These thermal generation limitations collectively account for 411 MW of unavailable capacity.
Compounding the issue is a severe shortage of fuel, which has rendered a substantial portion of the country's distributed generation plants inoperative. A total of 91 distributed generation units, representing 756 MW of capacity, are offline due to fuel scarcity. An additional 13 MW are affected by a lack of oil for distributed generation engines, bringing the total impact from fuel issues to 769 MW. While the UNE anticipates recovering 50 MW from these engines during peak hours, this remains a marginal improvement against the overall shortfall.
Despite the operational challenges, Cuba's nascent renewable energy sector is contributing to the grid. The 18 newly commissioned photovoltaic solar parks produced 1,971 MWh of energy, achieving a maximum output of 469 MW during peak solar hours. However, this contribution, while vital, is currently insufficient to offset the substantial deficit caused by conventional generation failures and fuel constraints. The ongoing crisis severely impacts the Cuban population, leading to disruptions in water supply, public transportation, and the spoilage of refrigerated goods, underscoring the urgent need for a more resilient and diversified energy matrix.