Cubans turn to solar amid blackouts
Fuel shortages, US sanctions and falling oil imports push households and businesses to install solar panels as power cuts deepen.
Image for illustrative purposes / Rosen Ivanov Iliev, Shutterstock.com
Cuba: Cubans are increasingly turning to solar power as long, frequent blackouts disrupt daily life across the island. Homes, cafés, small businesses and even vehicles are being fitted with solar panels as people look for ways to cope with a worsening energy crisis.
The shortages are largely linked to long-standing US sanctions, which have made it difficult for Cuba to secure enough fuel for electricity generation. The situation has deteriorated further in recent months following a sharp fall in oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, reportedly influenced by US tariff threats.
While the Cuban government has expanded renewable capacity with Chinese financing and donated equipment, adding more than 1,000 MW of solar power in the past year and promising to double it, many citizens are acting on their own.
Havana resident Roberto Sarriga said recurring outages pushed him to invest in panels with help from a friend. The system allows him to stay online, keep his phone charged and power a television for his elderly mother. “The idea was to at least have the basics covered,” he said.
Solar systems, sold in dollars, remain unaffordable for most people, but are increasingly used by private business owners and families receiving money from abroad. To encourage investment, the government has announced tax exemptions of up to eight years for renewable energy projects.
Installers report rising demand as fuel shortages leave diesel generators unusable. For many entrepreneurs, despite higher upfront costs, solar power is now seen as the most reliable option as the national grid continues to struggle.
Source: The Independent
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