In today's Cuba, a new factor is widening the social divide: the ability to acquire and install solar panels. Amidst a severe energy crisis, where power outages last for hours and electricity has become a scarce commodity, harnessing solar energy presents itself as an alternative—but not everyone can afford it.
According to the state-run newspaper Girón, Cuba requires over 3,600 megawatts to sustain its daily activities, yet demand far exceeds supply. The Cuban government has announced plans to have 51 solar parks operational by the end of 2025, with 32 already connected to the National Electric System (SEN), as part of an emergency strategy to tackle the prolonged energy crisis. However, basic needs like cooking, washing, or keeping a refrigerator running remain luxuries dependent on a fragile electrical grid.
In this scenario, some families have turned to solar panels as a means to endure the blackouts, while the majority continue to rely on a crumbling network. The crux of the issue is that solar energy in Cuba is not readily accessible. Necessary equipment is imported and paid for in foreign currency. A basic photovoltaic kit can cost over a thousand dollars, a sum unattainable for most households surviving on state salaries paid in Cuban pesos.
Thus, solar panels, which should symbolize progress and independence, have instead become a new emblem of inequality. Juan Carlos Subiaut Suárez, a resident, noted an increase in the installation of residential solar systems and off-grid hybrid generators this year, driven by small businesses and shipping sites importing components from abroad. However, he acknowledged that this trend is limited to a small, resourceful minority or those with foreign support.
“Emergency energy technologies are neither cheap nor simple. There have already been reports of fires and explosions due to poor installations, as well as equipment with false data or lacking adequate protection,” he warned.
On the other hand, Adisbel Alfonso Pérez, another concerned citizen, criticized the Banco de Crédito y Comercio (BANDEC) for announcing a credit program for solar system installations on social media, which in practice doesn't exist. “When you visit the BANDEC Business Center, no one knows how the process works; they haven't been trained. It seems like it was just to create expectations—a way to appease without delivering anything substantial. Essentially, as they say, it's all smoke and mirrors,” she wrote.
The voices of citizens like Subiaut and Alfonso highlight an increasingly apparent reality: access to renewable energy is marred by inequality and a lack of institutional transparency. While the regime attempts to promote the narrative of an “energy transition,” the truth is that solar energy progresses unevenly, hindered by high costs, bureaucracy, and improvisation.
In today's Cuba, the sun shines on everyone, but its power illuminates only a select few. Nonetheless, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel recently claimed that the solar park installation program continues to progress and that these investments have helped mitigate the energy deficit.
Solar Energy and Social Inequality in Cuba
Why is solar energy not accessible to everyone in Cuba?
Solar energy is not accessible to everyone in Cuba because the necessary equipment is imported and must be paid for in foreign currency, making it unaffordable for most households relying on state salaries in Cuban pesos.
What challenges do Cuban citizens face with solar panel installations?
Cuban citizens face challenges such as high costs, limited availability, and technical risks like poor installations leading to fires or explosions, as well as issues with equipment quality.
What is the Cuban government's plan for solar energy?
The Cuban government plans to have 51 solar parks operational by the end of 2025 as part of an emergency strategy to address the ongoing energy crisis, with 32 already synchronized with the National Electric System.