Havana has a new source of clean energy generation, located in El Rincón, Boyeros municipality, starting this weekend. This photovoltaic solar park in El Rincón has already begun supplying energy to Havana's electrical grid.
The construction was carried out in a very tight period of three months , in response to the needs of the city and within the framework of the national strategy to promote renewables, as well as coinciding with various commemorations that have marked the institutional agenda in recent weeks.
Key project data
The site is located on a plain specifically prepared for the project, about 500 meters from the San Lázaro National Sanctuary . The land was leveled and mechanically cleared to accommodate rows of panels with orientation and spacing designed to maximize solar energy capture.
The plant has an installed capacity of 21,87 MW , and those responsible for the project estimate an annual production of around 35.000 MWh , depending on local irradiation and the performance of the photovoltaic-inverter system.
Thanks to its design and the arrangement of the structures, the installation seeks optimal exploitation of radiation throughout the day and year, reducing shadows and losses due to temperature, with the aim of injecting renewable energy into the capital's electrical system with the greatest possible stability.
In addition to its direct contribution, the park will help to reduce the use of fossil fuels in generation and diversify the electricity mix , an aspect identified as a priority for Havana in the short term.
Work and execution
The pace of construction was intense from the start, with compressed schedules and staggered shifts that allowed for shortening the projected timeline . Coordination between the investor, builders, and equipment suppliers proved crucial in preventing work stoppages.
During the inauguration, the performance of brigades and teams that participated in the different phases was recognized. Among those honored was the Blas Roca Contingent , along with the technicians and engineers who led the assembly and commissioning.
The investment included state-of-the-art technology for modules, inverters and protection systems, as well as the civil works associated with internal roads, fencing, conduits and the electrical infrastructure for connection to the system.
According to sources present at the event, the execution maintained quality and safety standards, with special attention to the assembly of the structures and the energization and synchronization tests before delivery.
Institutional presence and messages
The opening was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ramiro Valdés ; the First Secretary of the Party in Havana, Liván Izquierdo Alonso; the Provincial Governor, Yanet Hernández Pérez; the First Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Argelio Abad Vigoa; and the Deputy Director of the Electric Union, Omar Ramírez Mendoza.
In its statement, the Havana Governorate emphasized the value of collective effort and cooperation between agencies to meet deadlines and standards, highlighting the role of technical teams and workers in completing the site.
The institutional messages focused on the role of the project within the roadmap to expand renewable generation in the capital, emphasizing that similar new infrastructure will strengthen the grid in the medium term.
Energy context in the capital
The park's commissioning comes at a challenging time for the electrical system, with recent reports of prolonged outages in various regions. At certain times, deficits of approximately 1.809 MW have been reported during peak hours and around 1.350 MW at midday.
Although the contribution of an installation of this size does not by itself resolve all the tensions in the system, it is considered a partial relief that helps to contain fuel consumption and improve coverage at times of higher demand, especially in the vicinity of the capital.
Forecasts released in previous days pointed to daytime impacts of around 1.300 MW and peaks close to 1.710 MW, figures that explain the urgency of accelerating renewable projects that inject clean energy in a sustained manner.
In this context, El Rincón is incorporated as a strategic asset of the city as a whole, with a measurable contribution and a demonstrative effect on the ability to execute infrastructure in short periods when the situation demands it.
With its entry into operation, the Boyeros enclave adds renewable power to the grid and establishes the idea that, with planning, resources and coordination, it is possible to shorten deadlines and gain resilience in Havana's electrical system while reducing emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
