Cuba: Foreign Investment for Use of Renewable Energy

HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 11 (acn) The construction of seven new wind farms with direct foreign investment is considered in a program of medium-term development for the better use of renewable energy sources in Cuba.

In the presence of deputies of the Parliament's Committee on Industry, Construction and Energy, Alfredo López, Minister of Energy and Mines (MINEM), explained the projects to increase the use of solar, hydraulic, wind and biomass energies to generate electricity.
The construction of six wind farms through other ways of financing north of the eastern side of the island and in the center of the country are also included in plans to increase electricity produced from renewable sources, which currently reaches only slightly more than four percent.
According to Rosell Guerra, director for Renewable Energy of the MINEM, the construction of these wind farms includes the creation of an infrastructure that would allow for the transfer of power to the national grid.
Guerra added that other foreign investment projects for the use of photovoltaic solar energy, which currently provides 22 MW of power generated in 12 wind farms located in different regions of the country are being assessed.
Deputies, meeting as a prelude to the Fifth Ordinary Period of Sessions of the Eighth Legislature of the National Assembly of the People's Power, also knew about plans to increase generation capacity by way of small hydroelectric and bioelectric plants.
The Minister of Energy and Mines asserted that the implementation of the policy for the development of renewable sources will make it possible to increase power generation to 24 percent by 2030.
He also referred to the various energy savings programs, such as the production and installation of water heaters and solar panels in housing, as well as the use of LED lighting technology in homes and street lighting.