The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) donated more than 20 million dollars to collaborate with Cuba in the assembly of solar photovoltaic parks in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventudreported the state newspaper Granma.
It is “a rapid discharge lithium battery system, which makes it possible to compensate for fluctuations caused by the instability of photovoltaic generation and, thereby, contribute to the regulation of the frequency of the municipal electrical system“Granma stressed.
The inauguration of the facilities was attended by the Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, the Japanese ambassador to Cuba, Hirata Kenji, the resident representative of JICA in the Caribbean country, Ashida Tatsuya and the Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy. .
Tatsuya, said that the inaugurated work is the result of joint work of specialists from several Japanese companies and Cuban companiesthanks to which “the penetration of renewable energy sources on Isla de la Juventud can be increased by 15 MW,” indicated the Cuban News Agency.
With that, he electric system on the Isle of Youth it would reach 20% energy production with renewable sourcesassured the director of the state Unión Eléctrica, Alfredo López.
The official stated that “the experience of This million-dollar investment will be very useful for the construction of other similar works. in the national electrical system, in accordance with the transformation of the energy matrix in Cuba”.
The Cuban Government aspires to reduce its dependence on fossil fuelswhich currently account for 95% of national energy production, and especially crude oil imports, due to the effort in terms of currency it entails.
In this endeavor, Spain will support the construction of a solar park in Cuba, The Embassy of the European Union (EU) reported in March, in the midst of constant blackouts and the comprehensive breakdown of the island’s electrical system.
The European bloc, together with the Japanese Government, have committed “to support the energy transition in Cuba through renewable energies”.
Recently, O Levy informed the state press of two contracts totaling 2,000 MW of photovoltaic energy“whose results will not be seen immediately,” he said.
The objective, according to the minister, is to conclude the first contract of 1,000 MW by May 2025, and the second, in 2028. Each one has an additional 100 MW in storage capacity and The installation of 46 solar parks is planned (for a total of 92) in all the provinces of the country.
De la O Levy said that the contracts have included the supplies for the transportation of containers with equipment to the provinces. “Progress has already been made on issues such as microlocation and other permits for the facilities and earth moving work has begun,” she explained.
“The path outlined for Cuba is to advance with our own resources, to go towards sustainability and energy sovereignty with our own crude oil, our gas and renewable energy sources,” he declared.
