Blackouts in Cuba are skyrocketing: four times more than a year ago, despite solar energy.

The situation of Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) continues to deteriorate. Despite the addition of photovoltaic parks, the figures reveal a more critical outlook than a year ago.

The Electric Union (UNE) reported this Tuesday, June 17, that the power outage continued throughout the previous day and into the early morning. At 22:00 p.m. yesterday, the maximum outage was recorded. 1654 MW, right at the peak of demand.

According to the information provided, the production of the 16 photovoltaic solar parks reached a total generation of 1527 MWh, with a maximum delivered power of 392 MW at noon. However, this effort has failed to reverse the collapse of the SEN.

Currently, the availability of the system is barely 1590 MW, facing a demand that amounts to 2755 MW, which leaves a deficit of 1236 MW and widespread impact. For the evening peak hours, the projected deficit amounts to 1530 MW, with an estimated impact of 1600 MWThat is, more than half the country could be without service at that time.

Cuba plunges into darkness: June blackouts quadruple those of 2024

A glance at June 17, 2024, is enough to show that there has been no improvement: the situation back then was considerably better.

• Availability: 2580 MW 
• Demand: 2260 MW 
• Affectation: 0 MW during the day 
• Estimated peak deficit: 340 MW 
• Maximum projected impact: 410 MW 

Even with units failing and fuel shortages, the SEN managed to cover a large portion of demand. A year later, even new solar installations have not managed to stem the collapse.

Cubans are taking to social media to express their frustration, pointing out that the current situation is destroying their quality of life: “They’re killing the people who live in these circuits,” says one user. The frequent interruptions—which in some places amount to 19 hours a day without electricity—compromise the health of the population, food storage, and nighttime rest.

For now, the lack of structural solutions, the obsolescence of the thermoelectric park, the fuel shortage, and a collapsed distributed generation system make blackouts a constant in Cuba.