A solar-powered charging station in central Cuba brings life to a darkened island
The free station has 20 sockets and 16 vehicle spots, helping residents charge vehicles, phones and cooking gear amid chronic blackouts and gas shortages.
- In early April, a local business owner opened what is believed to be Cuba's first solar-powered charging station in Santa Clara, known locally as a "solinera."
- Chronic blackouts and a severe gas shortage stemming from a U.S. energy blockade prompted the Cuban government to install solar panels across hospitals and farms. Renewable energy now accounts for 10% of the island's electricity, up from 3.6% in 2024.
- The station features 20 sockets for equipment, 16 spots for vehicles, and 12 for cooking, powered by solar panels providing 30 kilowatts of energy and a 60-kilowatt battery.
- Residents like Yudelaimys Barrero now travel the 43-mile trip from Cienfuegos to Santa Clara using rechargeable vehicles, while Danailys Arbol uses the site to cook and power fans, saying, "We're not running around so much."
- Alexander Gutiérrez Altuve, who helped finance and set up the station, noted the project is free for all users, positioning Santa Clara—historically linked to Ernesto Guevara and philanthropist Marta—as a renewable energy leader.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Solar Revolution: Powering Change in Santa Clara, Cuba
In Santa Clara, Cuba, the opening of a solar-powered charging station is transforming lives. Previously reliant on unreliable transportation, locals like Yudelaimys Barrero Muñoz now use solar energy to power vehicles, appliances, and more. This shift highlights Cuba's renewable energy efforts amid persistent energy challenges caused by blockades and shortages.
CUBA- The Cuban Yudelaimys Barrero Muñoz used to spend hours on the side of the road trying to get some motorist to take her from the outskirts of Cienfuegos, where she resides, to the city of Santa Clara, about 70 kilometers away.It was an impossible trip to take on her husband's bike and even more back with a heavy backpack after buying perfumes, disposable diapers or oil in that city to then resell them and earn a living in her small rural co…
Independent Español
focoinformativo.siteCuban Yudelaimys Barrero Muñoz used to spend hours on the side of the road trying to get some motorist to take her from the outskirts of Cienfuegos, where she resides, to the city of Santa Clara, about 70 kilometers away.
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