Cuba solar storage live 2024

What if Cuba had built out more solar power?

Cuba’s large-scale blackouts that left 10 million people without power this month wouldn’t have happened if the government had built out more solar power to boost its failing electric grid as promised, some experts say.

Can solar power solve Cuba's energy problems?

In a nation with plentiful sunshine, Cuban officials have long had the opportunity to encourage solar power as one solution to national energy problems. But October’s sweeping outages — the island’s worst power failure in years — show little progress has been made.

Could more solar power boost Cuba's electric grid?

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s large-scale blackouts that left 10 million people without power this month may not have happened if the government had built out more solar power to boost its failing electric grid as promised, some experts say.

Should Cubans buy solar panels paired with batteries?

The minister of energy and head of the nation's electric utility encouraged Cubans to buy rooftop solar systems paired with batteries, instead of the gas and diesel generators purchased by Cubans who can afford them.

What happened in Havana in 2024?

FILE - A street vendor selling candles waits for customers during a blackout following the failure of a major power plant in Havana, Cuba, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File) FILE - A classic American car with a Cuban flag drives down a street in Havana, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, File) By ALEXA ST.

Is Cuba a good candidate for solar?

Besides the strong sunlight, there is another way that Cuba is a good candidate for solar. A significant share of its electricity comes from smaller power plants distributed around the country. Solar could be added or switched out in those locations. But it hasn't happened yet.