Solar-Powered Fleet Prepares to Depart for Cuba from Barcelona

The Spanish NGO Open Arms is gearing up to set sail from the port of Barcelona on May 10 with its sailboat, the Astral, laden with photovoltaic solar panels. These panels are destined for the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital in Havana, as confirmed by the organization itself.

Dubbed "Course to Cuba," this effort is spearheaded by Open Arms in collaboration with the Cooperativa Ecooo Revolución Solar, with clear support from leftist political parties such as Podemos, Sumar, and Bildu.

So far, the fundraising campaign has gathered 63,609 euros towards a 100,000-euro target, thanks to contributions from 1,031 donors in just about a month. This means 64% of the goal has been met, leaving more than 36,000 euros still needed to hit the target.

The voyage will make stops in Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria before crossing the Atlantic. Organizers have slated these stages to occur from May 13 to May 28.

During each leg of the journey, up to four individuals from the cultural sector, public figures, and influencers will board, as part of what organizers call a mission to raise awareness.

The Broader Impact and Criticism

While the solar panels may provide immediate benefits to a specific hospital, the initiative brings to light a recurring criticism: International aid reaching Cuba often lacks independent oversight, turning into symbolic relief and political narrative rather than a structural solution. These actions, presented as acts of solidarity, fall short of openly challenging the Cuban government's role in the deterioration of its energy and healthcare infrastructure, thus perpetuating a model reliant on periodic external support without addressing the root causes of the crisis.

Óscar Camps, director of Open Arms, expressed hope to "personally deliver all the photovoltaic materials to ensure, at the very least, that the intensive care unit at the hospital can serve newborns and vulnerable populations in need of medical care."

Historical Context and Ongoing Support

Camps praised Cuban medical brigades as "professionals who are part of a sustained tradition of international solidarity" and justified the mission as a way to "give back some of that solidarity wherever we can contribute."

This initiative is part of a broader wave of international left-wing actions supporting the Cuban regime. In March 2026, the "Nuestra América" fleet, also known as "Granma 2.0," arrived from Mexico with 14 tons of humanitarian aid and 73 solar panels. That effort involved Pablo Iglesias, former Spanish Vice President, who was interviewed by Díaz-Canel and stirred controversy by downplaying the Cuban crisis from a luxury hotel in Havana.

Cuban exiles have labeled these flotillas as "propaganda spectacles" that overlook the regime's responsibility for the country's structural crisis, which extends far beyond the U.S. embargo.

The Energy Crisis Explained

Cuba's energy crisis is both real and severe: The national electrical system has experienced at least five total collapses in under 12 months, with shortfalls reaching 2,008 MW and blackouts lasting 20 to 24 hours a day for the island's 11 million residents. Experts argue that the root of the electrical collapse lies in a lack of investment and outdated plants, not the embargo: 76% of Cuba's electricity generation relies on imported oil derivatives, and the infrastructure has received less than 10% of national investment during decades of the regime's mismanagement.

The fundraising campaign by Open Arms remains active as the Astral prepares to depart from Barcelona this coming Sunday.