Zoom in
Parque Eólico en Gibara, Holguín, Cuba. / Wind Farm at Gibara, Holguin, Cuba.
Zoom in
Zoom in
Zoom in
Zoom in

CUBA'S NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS GREATLY FAVOR THE USE OF CLEAN-ENERGY-BASED TECHNOLOGIES AND BENEFIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECO-FRIENDLY TOURISM SECTOR


The Cuban archipelago is made up of the Island of Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean, Youth Island and other 4,000 islands, islets and keys. This geographical situation and other characteristics give the nation exceptional conditions to use technologies that make the most of renewable energy sources or clean energies, as they are internationally known.

Sun
Since it's situated in the so-called Solar Belt, Cuba is exposed to high radiation levels throughout the year, so this situation favors the use of photovoltaic panels, solar heaters and other technologies based on solar radiation.
Cuba's tourism sector has logically put its smart money on the use of solar heaters and there are thousands of these systems installed all over the country.

Wind
The effect of solar emission on the ground and the sea favors the presence of wind currents known as sea and land breezes. These breezes, along with Trade Winds and other combinations of north winds, create favorable conditions to make good use of this resource, especially at the eastern and central regions of the island, where big and small turbines can be installed, as well as windmills that mainly target the agricultural sectors.
It's important to highlight the energy that is presently produced at the four wind farms: two in Gibara, Holguin; one in Turiguano, Ciego de Avila; and one on the Youth Island, with folding technology designed to endure intense hurricanes, which usually hit the south western coast of the island on June-November.

Hydropower
Although Cuba doesn't have big rivers, it does have usable hydropower potential for small power plants. The first Cuban hydroelectric station, located at the westernmost Pinar del Rio province, dates back to 1912 and it's still operational. There are other 163 small plants and at least another 34 are planned to be built, in a bid to make good use of the reservoirs.

Biomass
With centuries of experience in the growing of sugar cane, its fertile lands, high relative humidity and abundant solar radiation, Cuba has considerable potential in terms of the exploitation of cane biomass (bagasse).
Moreover, it's important to keep in mind that 25 percent of the Cuban territory has been reforested and there are large areas carpeted by marabou, a highly-valued raw material.
Bioelectric plants make the most of the bagasse from sugar mills and forest biomass, so they are great producers of energy and they can be perfectly combined with the sugar industry.
On the other hand, it's important to mention the biomass obtained out of ranching and pig breeding, since organic wastes are turned into biogas by applying simple and practical technologies that benefit specific areas and improve the quality of life for families living in the countryside.

Sea Energies
Nature has given the Cuban archipelago some of the most beautiful beaches of the world but, at the same time, there are areas characterized by the significant depth near the coast, a situation that favors the advance of technologies that make good use of the different temperatures between surface warm waters and colder deep waters.

Ongoing Situation
Nearly 5 percent of the country's electric power is characterized by its renewable origin, with a leading role played by the power obtained from sugar mills.
Cuba has outlined a smart policy in terms of the use of clean energies through 2030. The objective is to reach that year with 24 percent of the power being obtained by means of clean energies, which entails saving 300,000 tons of fossil fuel and avoiding the emission of a significant volume of polluting gasses.
Cuba's development projection foresees the future exploitation of 19 bioelectric plants in sugar mills across the country, and 13 wind farms, mainly located at the northeastern and central regions of the country, in areas near the coast, with positive wind regimens that favor the operation of wind-driven generators.
Cuba is an exceptional tourism destination in the Caribbean, visited by people from every corner of the Earth. Among its most precious treasures, the island is characterized by its attractive and exuberant nature and the environmental respect in line with the use of clean energies.