• Cuba is rapidly deploying solar parks to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels amid U.S. sanctions, with 26 operational by August 2025 generating 2,366 MWh daily.
  • President Miguel Díaz-Canel inaugurated a China-aided 21.8 MW park in Cotorro on February 21, 2025, part of plans for 55 parks totaling 1,200 MW by year-end.
  • The initiative aims to cut 750,000 tons of annual fuel imports and cover daytime electricity demand from June 2025, though nighttime shortages persist due to limited battery storage.

Cuba is pushing forward with an aggressive solar power expansion as it grapples with U.S. efforts to block fossil fuel imports, according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes amid ongoing blackouts and energy shortages that have plagued the island nation, with officials scrambling to find alternatives to aging thermal plants and costly fuel shipments.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel has endorsed the accelerated rollout, which targets 2,000 MW from 92 photovoltaic parks by 2028. Efforts to restructure the energy sector have gained momentum after repeated grid collapses in 2024-2025, sources say. As of mid-2025, total solar capacity reached approximately 530 MW from parks in provinces like Villa Clara and Ciego de Ávila, with 32 more adding 144 MW planned toward 1,000 MW by 2030.

“We are using our own resources to become more self-sufficient,” one government official involved in the planning said, echoing statements by Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy. The Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) is leading the state-driven initiative, with a March 2024 plan aiming for 24% renewables by 2030, up from less than 5% pre-2025.

Chinese firms are supplying panels, batteries, and financing, with each park costing around $16 million in imports. The Cabaiguán park in Sancti Spíritus, operational at 21.87 MW, and two in Holguín set for September 2025 at 21.8 MW each, are part of the latest developments. Without these investments, the country would face even more severe blackouts, analysts note.

Market data shows solar now covers daytime demand from June 2025, adding 2,000 MW by 2026. However, 2026 remains “difficult” with persistent shortages, according to internal projections. The push is driven by U.S. sanctions tightening fuel access and high global prices, making solar a cost-effective alternative. Cuba aims to cut 750,000 tons of annual fuel imports, easing financial strain.

Industry-specific elements include filing deadlines for park commissions and partnerships with Chinese entities, though raw material shortages and grid limitations for non-daytime output pose hurdles. Residents report mixed reactions: optimism from reduced daytime outages but frustration over nighttime issues, as storage is limited to four parks initially.

Future outlook suggests 50+ parks by end-2025 for 1,000+ MW, with Minem predicting an ahead-of-schedule 24% renewables target. Parallel developments include wind, biomass, and hydro diversification, and similar China-aided efforts in other sanctioned nations like Venezuela. Corrections: An earlier version misstated the peak output; it is 557 MW, not 600 MW.