Havana Power Emergency Energy Storage Project

Why does Cuba have a bad energy system?

Cuba’s energy system also suffers from years of reliance on domestic, poor-quality heavy crude oil, which is corrosive because it’s high in sulfur. This has accelerated the wear and tear on boilers, turbines, and pipes in Cuba’s power plants, shortening their life spans and causing frequent and costly outages.

Does Cuba have an energy crisis?

Cuba isn’t just in an energy crisis; the country’s grid sits on the verge of systemic failure. The National Electric System, most of which was built after 1959, hasn’t received the investment and maintenance it needs for 35 years—a consequence of Cuba’s complex political and economic history.

Why has Cuba's energy grid collapsed four times in the last 6 months?

On top of that, Cuba’s entire grid has collapsed four times in the last six months. The problem stems from years of neglect of Cuba’s energy infrastructure, exacerbated by constrained access to foreign capital and a failure to adapt to new energy options.

Are floating power plants a symptom of Cuba's power crisis?

To help compensate for power deficits, Cuba in 2019 started renting floating thermal power plants from other countries such as Turkey’s Karpowership. By 2023, eight of these kinds of ships were floating in Mariel Bay, Havana Bay, and Santiago de Cuba Bay. But their fate is now just another symptom of the crisis.