In a strategic step to strengthen its energy matrix, Cuba has brought the “Major General Ángel del Castillo Agramonte” Photovoltaic Solar Park into full operation.
The facility, located in the municipality of Majagua, contributes 5 megawatts (MW) to the national power grid (SEN), but is particularly noteworthy for being the first in the country to integrate a battery backup system.
This project marks the beginning of the second phase of a significant 120 MW donation from the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Caribbean nation, strengthening the ties of technical cooperation and solidarity between the two countries.
Technological Innovation and Grid Stability
What distinguishes this plant from other photovoltaic installations on the island is its 1 MW storage capacity using state-of-the-art batteries, which regulate frequency and ensure voltage stability.
Daniel Carrasco Camejo, Project Director of the Ciego de Ávila Electric Company, also explained that this solar park allows the area to be self-sufficient in the event of general power outages, functioning as an immediate backup.
Furthermore, it smooths out the fluctuations inherent in solar energy, constantly injecting electricity into the grid.
International Cooperation on the Ground
The project’s execution was a joint effort involving some twenty Chinese specialists and Cuban construction crews.
During the inauguration ceremony, local authorities expressed their deep gratitude to the people and government of China, emphasizing that this support is vital to Cuba’s energy sovereignty strategy.
This advancement represents a milestone in Cuba’s roadmap to increase the share of renewable energy sources. With the commissioning of this park, the country not only increases generation capacity but also experiments with storage solutions that are fundamental to modernizing an electrical infrastructure facing constant challenges.
The economic difficulties, shortages, and infrastructure problems, including those affecting the electrical grid and the healthcare system, that Havana suffers due to the more than six decades of the US blockade have increased in recent months due to this mechanism of strangulation against the country.
A coercive measure was expanded on May 7, with the extension of sanctions by the Donald Trump Administration that directly targeted strategic pillars of its economy in order to paralyze vital sectors such as finance and mining-metallurgy.
IMAGE CREDIT: The installation contributes 5 megawatts (MW) to the national power grid (SEN). Photo: Ministry of Energy and Mines, Cuba
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
