Distributed generation in cuba

Distributed generation in Cuba

feature

More than 40% of the electricity generation capacity in Cuba is small-scale distributed plant. This is among the highest proportions in the world, although around half are diesel generators. The country is making progress towards its goal of a ‘new energy paradigm’ writes Mario Alberto Arrastía Avila.

Distributed generation in Cuba part of a transition towards a new energy paradigm

uba depends on fossil fuels to generate electricity and the country consumes 7.6 million tons of oil a year. Before 1959, the Cuban Electric Power Industry was controlled by foreign capital. The process of nationalization carried out by the Cuban Government in the early 1960s resulted in an oil blockade, thus forcing the country to import oil from the former Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, the impact on the Cuban economy was devastating, with Cuba’s oil consumption falling by 20% in only two years. The effect of this was felt immediately across all sectors; transport, industry and agriculture virtually collapsed. Blackouts lasting up to 16 hours became a common issue. Renewable energy technologies began to be deployed in Cuba at the end of the 19th century. There were applications of hydroelectricity, solar water heating, solar drying of coffee, cocoa, and herbal medicines, as well as water pumping with wind energy. The installation, in 1930, of the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant in the Bay of Matanzas (22 kW), was an historical event. In the second half of the 20th century, the country began the qualification of specialized human capital, and scientific research into solar cells, solar dryers, solar water heaters and wind energy was conducted. Today the country is implementing renewable energy technology application projects at national scale. The Cuban Electricity Saving Programme and the Energy Saving Programme of the Ministry of Education (PAEME) were launched in 1997. Both programmes have had