WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

2.1.1 Cuba
Daniel López and Manuel Álvarez, Cubaenergía, Cuba
Key facts
Population 11,075,244 1
Area 109,886 km 2
Climate Tropical climate moderated by trade
winds 1
Topography Mostly flat to rolling plains, with
rugged hills and mountains in the
southeast 1
Rain pattern Rainy season from May to October; dry
season from November to April
Electricity sector overview
The electrification level throughout Cuba is 95 per
cent. As of 2011, a total capacity of 6,240 MW is
installed in the country for electricity generation, of
which only 64 MW are hydropower plants. 2 Fossil fuels
(oil and gas) play a major role in electricity generation
(figure 1). Renewable energies contribute only 0.63
per cent to the gross electricity generation (data of
2011).
The country has embarked on an extensive
programme of modernizing existing power plants to
update them with advanced technologies, to achieve
higher availability in their operation and to decrease
specific fuel consumption as well as to increase use of
domestic crude oil.
Among other possible sources of electricity generation
are biomass and waste from sugar mills, using
sugarcane bagasse and straw.
Other renewables (PV, wind)
Hydropower
Gas turbines
Power generators
Thermal
0.07%
0.56%
13.04%
22.81%
63.52%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Cuba
Source: Oficina Nacional de Estadística 3
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
SHP installed capacity
21.9 MW
isolated mountainous areas.
The National Hydraulic Resources Institute has worked
for several years to identify the technical hydropower
potential of the country, studying the main rivers of
Cuba and conducting feasibility studies of hydropower
utilization at existing dams. The estimated total
hydropower potential is 848 MW, including a small
hydropower potential of 62 MW.
Renewable energy policy
In 2005/2006 a series of programmes called the Energy
Revolution was initiated focusing on: energy saving
and efficiency, increased availability of electric services
(deployment of distributed generation and
rehabilitation of networks), use of renewable energies,
increased exploration and production of oil and gas
and international collaboration.
Some of the initiatives envisaged for the future are:
1. To evaluate the possibility of assembling
necessary hydropower equipment within Cuba.
2. To study the Chinese experiences of hybrid
solutions (small hydropower, small wind turbines
and solar panels) for the provision of electricity to
60,000 households in rural areas.
3. To study the Chinese experiences of implementing
micro-systems and technologies that decrease
civil construction.
4. To reassess the country's hydropower potential.
5. To continue the automation of most of the small
hydropower plants.
6. To refurbish old hydropower plants by introducing
new technologies.
7. To start operation of the small hydropower plants
currently under construction.
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook.
2. Organización Latinoamericana de Energía (2012).
2012 Energy Statistics Report. Quito.
3. Cuba, Oficina Nacional de Estadística (2010). Annual
Cuba Statistics. Available from
www.one.cu/aec2010/esp/10_tabla_cuadro.htm.
Accessed January 2012.
SHP potential
62 MW
0 20 40 60 80
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Cuba
Cuba has one large hydropower plant (Hanabanilla, 43
MW) and 168 small hydropower plants with a total
capacity of 21.9 MW (figure 2). Of the 168 small
hydropower plants, 30 are connected to the national
power grid and 138 are off-grid plants located in
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