Las Tunas has established itself as a leader in Cuba’s energy transition following the completion of a major solar photovoltaic power generation complex that is already yielding tangible benefits for the population, particularly by ensuring water and health services during daylight hours.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Anisley Santiesteban Velázquez, general director of the Las Tunas Electric Company, told 26 that the eight planned solar photovoltaic parks have now been completed in the region, including the one in Punta Brava, in the municipality of “Amancio.”
“Collectively, these facilities have a theoretical installed capacity of 64.8 MW of solar photovoltaic energy. However, this figure will grow significantly in the short term. Once our colleagues at Enfre Granma complete the Veguita plant, we will reach nearly 85 MW of energy generation.
“This capacity allows for a fairly significant supply of power during the day. In the case of the larger plants, such as Nueva Línea, the 220-kV substation in the municipal seat, and Veguita itself, once they begin to synchronize with the national power grid, their contribution will be substantial.”
“The smaller plants (2.2, 4.4, and 5 MW) located in Manatí, Puerto Padre, Blanca Rosa, and Punta Brava also feed their energy into the grid in the same way,” the executive noted.
One of the most important aspects highlighted by the general director is the strategic use of solar energy to mitigate the effects of power outages.
What has this photovoltaic solar energy enabled us to do at this moment?
“In the midst of this crisis, we have been able to guarantee—at least with the available energy—an average of two and a half hours of power per day across the municipalities,” he stated.
But the impact goes further, extending to critical services such as water supply and healthcare, through the establishment of protection schedules.
“On Saturdays, nearly six hours of power are guaranteed to the municipality of Jobabo for pumping from Virama, ensuring water service in that town. Every day, 24 hours of power are guaranteed for the three main pumping stations in the provincial capital (Piedra Hueca, Rincón, and Cayojo).
"On Sundays, the TK47 circuit in Puerto Padre (approximately 7 MW) is protected for between five and seven hours to ensure water is pumped to the La Micro area, where the municipality’s buildings are located —an area that faces significant challenges with this vital service. “On Tuesdays, water pumping to the Vázquez area is guaranteed via the TK50 circuit, benefiting that community and filling a water pipeline that supplies Manatí and Puerto Padre,” stated Santiesteban Velázquez.
He also emphasized that “almost every day, there is a significant level of protection that extends not only to water but also to certain health services in the municipalities, which are guaranteed by this photovoltaic solar energy.”
The executive confirmed that investment in the wind farm is not being halted and that 22 foundations for 1.5-MW wind turbines have already been cast, which in theory would guarantee approximately 33 MW of available capacity by the time the project is completed. This would ensure that the province is in better condition.
In this regard, Santiesteban Velázquez revealed that the workers at the Electric Company hope to replicate the experiment carried out in the province of Pinar del Río, which involved regional self-sufficiency during daytime hours using renewable energy sources.
“We are in a position —once the Power Company determines that the system as a whole is ready— to begin participating in that experiment, which might not guarantee full coverage of demand 24 hours a day, but would provide a bit more power to the various municipal circuits during the day, so that everyone can enjoy electricity,” he explained.
Regarding the system’s response to a potential outage of the National Electric System (SEN in Spanish), the general director assured that “We have established a protocol in the event of a disconnection from the SEN. This involves first starting the emergency generators (fuel oil and diesel) to create a microgrid, and then feeding power from the solar farms, but with a controlled limit.
“The large fluctuations are caused by clouds. A cloud passes by, and the power drops very quickly; the cloud moves on, and the power rises very quickly. These fluctuations cause instability in the system and, consequently, its failure,” he clarified. For this reason, the inverters are limited to 1 MW each, resulting in a stable output of 7 MW per solar farm.
Thanks to this procedure, “when the system has gone down, we have sometimes been able to provide services to the municipalities.”
The executive acknowledged that the southern municipalities (Jobabo, Colombia, and Amancio) often lose power during these events; however, the installation of a storage system in Punta Brava could change this situation. The 5 MW farm is equipped with a 1 MW battery. Although testing is still underway and technical assistance is pending, the goal is that, in the event of an outage, that 1 MW of battery capacity will enable a micro-island to be established for Amancio’s main circuit, thereby ensuring communications, water pumping, and the operation of the municipal hospital.
