Cuba Expands Solar Capacity as Residents Use Charcoal During Power Shortages

Cuba’s government has announced plans to shift entirely to renewable energy sources by 2050. Renewables currently supply 10 percent of electricity demand, up from 3 percent in 2024, and officials project they will cover 15 percent by the end of 2026. The country has installed 54 solar parks with financing and equipment from China. Officials expect the total to reach 92 parks by 2028.

Frequent blackouts have forced many residents to cook with charcoal. Havana resident Lisbet Reyes said rice that normally takes 15 minutes on an electric cooker takes about an hour on a charcoal grill, and smoke fills her unventilated kitchen. A small bag of charcoal costs about $1, while the average state salary is about $13 a month.

Reyes said she recently required antibiotics after smoke exposure affected her respiratory system.

A small number of residents and business owners have purchased solar panels. Gym owner Guillermo Sánchez said his family spent nearly $5,000 on a system that now allows uninterrupted operation during daytime outages. Massage business owner Rafael Huergo bought six panels for roughly $100 each with help from relatives abroad.

He said the panels supply all household power and eliminate his electricity bill. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated on X that Cuba is advancing its energy transition program under party and government leadership. The Cuban Embassy in Washington did not respond to questions about the plan’s feasibility.

Energy expert Jorge Piñon of the University of Texas at Austin said reaching 100 percent renewables by 2050 is highly unlikely given Cuba’s current economic situation and infrastructure condition.