With major assistance from China, Cuba is implementing one of the fastest renewable energy transitions ever achieved by a developing country.
This rapid expansion by BRICS partner Cuba would have not been possible without sustained support from Beijing. China has committed to building 92 solar parks in Cuba by 2028, with a capacity of around 2,000 megawatts, almost doubling Cuba’s current generation capacity from fossil fuels entirely. Already 49 new solar parks, representing over half of the proposed projects, have been connected to Cuba’s electricity grid between early 2025 and early 2026. These have added more than 1,000 megawatts of capacity with equipment and financing from China.
Potential of Green Hydrogen for Cuba
Cuba is also promoting the development of Green Hydrogen (H2V) as another potential renewable energy development opportunity, especially against the total fuel blockade imposed by the Trump regime in Washington. Its importance transcends the mere substitution of hydrocarbons, establishing itself as a pillar for energy sovereignty and sustainable economic development.
In a situation of total fuel blockade, Cuba faces an almost complete paralysis of its economy and daily life. Oil and its derivatives (diesel, gasoline, fuel oil) are the backbone of transportation, electricity generation, agriculture, and industry.
1. Energy Sovereignty and Resilience:
Green hydrogen is produced from water and renewable electricity (solar, wind). Cuba possesses increasingly abundant solar and wind resources. By relying on these internal resources, Cuba avoids the vulnerability of fossil fuel imports, which are the main bottleneck of the blockade. Hydrogen-to-vegetarian (H2V) cannot be intercepted or sanctioned, guaranteeing an uninterrupted energy supply.
2. Reactivation of Transportation:
Transportation is the sector most visibly affected by fuel shortages. Buses, trucks, trains, and light vehicles come to a standstill. H2V allows for the reactivation and continued operation of these fleets, vital for the mobility of people, the distribution of food and medicine, and the transport of industrial supplies.
3. Decentralized and Stable Electricity Generation:
While the blockade affects the import of fuel oil for thermoelectric plants, H2V can be used in modified gas turbines or large-scale fuel cells to generate electricity. Furthermore, its storage capacity (unlike direct solar power) allows for electricity generation even at night or on cloudy days, stabilizing the National Electric System (SEN) and reducing dependence on imported parts and maintenance for aging thermoelectric plants.
4. Industrial and Agricultural Self-Sufficiency:
Many industries and agriculture depend on diesel-powered equipment or thermal processes that use fuel oil. Green hydrogen (H2V) can power agricultural machinery (fuel cell tractors) or be used as industrial fuel for furnaces and boilers, ensuring continuous production in key sectors.
5. Creation of a Domestic Value Chain:
H2V production fosters the development of national capabilities in the engineering, installation, and maintenance of electrolyzers, solar panels, and refueling stations, generating skilled employment and reducing technological dependence.
In short, H2V is not just an alternative energy option, but a viable strategy to guarantee the country’s functionality under the Trump regime’s energy blockade, transforming an external threat into an opportunity for endogenous development.
