According to local reports, the Alcalde Mayor facility will reduce diesel consumption by approximately 8,500 tons per year. The province of Cienfuegos is also set to launch two additional solar parks—La Yuca and Mal Tiempo—adding to the region’s existing 18 MW of solar capacity.
Despite these efforts, the country’s power grid remains unstable. The loss of Turkish floating power plants, once a key component of Cuba’s energy supply, has significantly weakened the reliability of the national electrical system (SEN).
For years, Cuba relied on rented floating power plants from the Turkish company Karadeniz to supplement its grid. At its peak, eight of these ships were stationed in Cuban ports. However, due to financial constraints, only three remain, all located in Havana. The reduction has created a 400 MW energy shortfall, with five of the floating plants relocating to Ecuador, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic.
Jorge Piñón, an energy expert from the University of Texas, warns that Cuba’s power reliability is now at risk, especially as the summer season approaches and energy demand peaks. The Turkish plants contributed significantly to the grid, providing 14% of Cuba’s total electricity in 2022 and increasing to 23% in 2023. Replacing this lost capacity would require at least 20 new solar parks of similar size to those currently being built.
Cuba’s 2025 solar energy goals are ambitious, aiming to install 55 solar parks with a total capacity of 1,200 MW within a single year. This accounts for 60% of the government’s long-term target of 2,000 MW by 2030. However, experts question the feasibility of such rapid expansion, citing Cuba’s history of mismanagement in large-scale infrastructure projects.
Piñón emphasizes that project management, rather than funding or technology, remains the biggest challenge. He notes that while China is playing a crucial role in Cuba’s solar energy push, the country’s ability to meet deadlines and efficiently manage resources will determine the success of these projects.
As Cuba struggles with its power crisis, geopolitical shifts in oil supply could offer temporary relief. Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, may increase crude oil shipments to Cuba as it seeks to maintain production levels despite U.S. sanctions. Meanwhile, Mexico, another key supplier, may have to reduce fuel deliveries due to its own financial restructuring efforts at state-owned oil company Pemex.
In the short term, however, Cuba continues to face severe power shortages. The national electricity deficit recently surpassed 1,500 MW, with peak-hour outages affecting nearly half of the country’s energy demand. Meanwhile, several thermal power plants remain offline due to maintenance or unexpected failures, further straining the grid.
