Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) is bracing for widespread power outages this Saturday. According to the official report from the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), as of 6 a.m., the available electricity was a mere 1,000 MW against a demand of 2,890 MW, leaving 1,915 MW already offline.
Friday was even more dire, with blackouts lasting all day and night, reaching a peak outage of 2,272 MW by 9 p.m.
For the peak demand hours on Saturday, the UNE anticipates an availability of 1,000 MW against a demand of 3,250 MW, leading to a shortfall of 2,250 MW. The official report warns of a potential impact of 2,280 MW during these hours, which represents roughly 70% of the national demand.
Thermal Power Plant Failures
Cuba's thermal power generation is facing numerous simultaneous failures. Units 5 and 6 at the Mariel thermal power plant, unit 2 at the Santa Cruz plant, unit 4 at the Cienfuegos plant, unit 2 at the Felton plant, and unit 6 at the Renté plant are all out of service due to breakdowns.
Additionally, units 3 at Santa Cruz, 5 at Nuevitas, and 5 at Renté are undergoing maintenance. The limitations in thermal generation total 402 MW.
Solar Energy: A Fleeting Respite
Providing a slight relief, photovoltaic solar parks contributed 4,221 MWh on Friday, with a peak capacity of 657 MW at noon. However, this generation vanishes as evening falls, just as demand peaks and the deficit spirals.
Persistent Blackouts and Public Unrest
This situation is part of a continuing trend of sustained blackouts in September, starting from the first day of the month when availability was around 960 MW and the projected deficit for the peak exceeded 2,310 MW.
On August 31, the UNE had projected a deficit of 2,410 MW, just a megawatt shy of the record 2,411 MW outage recorded on August 4.
Throughout 2026, the SEN has suffered at least seven total blackouts—complete collapses of the grid—occurring in March, July, and August.
The outages have sparked an unprecedented wave of protests, including banging pots, road blockades, and demonstrations in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, and Ciego de Ávila, among other provinces. The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 107 street protests in June, a record high, with the power crisis being the main catalyst.
UNE had previously cautioned in August that the period from September to December could be the most critical of the year, as scheduled maintenance coincides with breakdowns in multiple thermal power units—a scenario starkly confirmed by Saturday's data.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What is causing the severe power outages in Cuba?
The severe power outages are primarily due to failures in multiple thermal power units and insufficient electricity generation compared to the high demand.
How are Cuban citizens responding to the power outages?
The power outages have led to widespread protests, including banging pots, road blockades, and public demonstrations in several Cuban provinces.
What role does solar energy play in alleviating the power crisis?
Solar energy provides a temporary relief by contributing to electricity generation during the day, but its impact diminishes in the evening when demand peaks.