This is the Pinar 220 A1 solar park, the first of its kind in the region, equipped with technology which promises to significantly change the province’s electricity supply system.

Despite its three megawatt peak capacity, a little over a year since its inauguration and the Pinar 220 A1 is already showing positive results.

Michel Casal, director of investments at the Cuban electric company in Pinar del Río, states that over the period, the park’s 12,080 solar panels have supplied almost six gigawatts of power to the National Electric System (SEN); highlighting that it would have cost the country over half a million dollars to generate the same amount of energy in one of thermoelectric plants which exist on the island, something that was achieved by the solar park at practically no cost.

PROJECTS UNDERWAY
Such results confirm in practice what had already been identified in studies: exploiting the strong sun rays enjoyed all-year-round in Vueltabajo (as the region is also known), could help to considerably reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

In regards to Pinar del Río’s first solar park, the highly efficient facility generates a daily average of around 13 MW. “So far the facility has been operating continuously and with a minimum level of maintenance work,” states Michel.

Based on this experience, new parks are continuing to be built across the province, according to the project director.
As such, work is currently underway on the first phase of a new park, located close to Troncoso which, when completed, should provide 2.7 MWp.

Meanwhile a further 28 areas across the entire province, where these types of facilities could be established, have also been identified.
Construction will begin on two of these sites this year, both of which are set to be completed by 2017. The first, located close to Pinar 220 A1 and with a four MWp capacity, will be built by a Chinese company, while the second, based in El Cafetal, San Luis municipality, with a capacity of 2.2 MWp, will be undertaken by the Cuban electric company in Pinar del Río.

The remaining projects are currently awaiting future investments by either Cuban or foreign entities.

OVER 100 YEARS OF HISTORY
The use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity in Cuba’s westernmost province dates back over a century.
According to historians, such efforts began in December 1912 with the opening of the Salto de Pilotos hydroelectric plant, the oldest in the country and still operating, but with more modern equipment.

Next came the San Vicente facility in the municipality of Viñales, and El Salto, in Guane, both constructed in 1920 and which continue to function today.

These represent isolated cases, however, with minimal impact in terms of both kilowatts generated and fuel savings.
However, this reality which has marked the life of the province for over a century, is set to change significantly over the coming years, thanks to the emergence of more efficient technologies, a reduction in investment costs, and the priority which the country currently affords the issue.

Jorge Luis Arzola, director of the Hydropower Basic Enterprise Unit (UEB) in Vueltabajo, notes that in addition to the company’s seven plants there are plans to add another eight before the end of 2020, with an output capacity five times greater than the 415KW generated by existing facilities. Almost all will be located downstream from reservoirs, and designed to supply clean energy directly to the SEN.

MODIFYING THE ENERGY SYSTEM
With the aim of modifying the region’s energy system, the 28 areas selected for the construction of solar parks – spanning a total of 179 hectares – should supply a total of 105.9 MWp to the SEN.

According to Michel, the program set to be implemented gradually over the coming years, will supply a good part of the energy consumed by the province.

“Today the maximum peak is about 154MW, so we’re talking about covering almost 70% of the provinces energy needs with solar panels.”
In economic terms, the beneficial impact of the program is predicted to be huge, considering the amount of fuel that will be saved, which will also have a positive effect on the environment.

“The amount of CO2 that will no longer be emitted is considerable, if we bear in mind that thousands of tons are being saved in the Pinar 220 A1 park alone,” states Michel

A little over a century since the Salto de Pilotos hydroelectric plant was opened generating electricity with fossil fuels is no longer a necessity; thus it seems that the time of renewable energy has finally arrived in the province.

Near the city of Pinar del Río, on one side of the highway which runs through the area known as Troncoso, the construction of the region’s third solar park – for a total of six scheduled to be built there – seems to prove as much, together with the studies and projects conducted over recent years, geared toward generating clean energy through the use of natural, environmentally friendly renewable energy sources.

(Granma)

Yadira Torres Olarriaga, conservation specialist at the National Flora and Fauna Enterprise, speaking to the Cuban News Agency (ACN), explained that the first oceanographic buoy, intended to collect data of great scientific interest, has been installed at the Jardines de la Reina National Park, in the province of Ciego de Ávila.

She noted that these devices measure the chlorophyll and the amount of sediment present in the water, and the circulation of ocean currents, among other technical parameters.

The data stored by the buoy will be collected every six months and its batteries changed. The device was donated to the island through an international collaborative project with the European Union and a German NGO.

Torres Olarriaga explained that its implementation responds to Cuba’s strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change.

She also reported that a second buoy will shortly be installed in the Ciénaga de Zapata National Park in Matanzas province, and hopes are to further increase the use of this method of research across the island.

She noted that efforts are being conducted together with other institutions, such as the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation, Marine and Fisheries Research centers and with surrounding communities.

Marine protected areas are a portion of the national marine or coastal-marine territory, with high natural values. In total there are 47 such areas in Cuba, which include coastal wetlands, keys and landmass areas up to 200 meters beyond the high tide line.

(ACN)

According to figures from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Citma), of the total protected areas, 103 are approved by the Council of Ministers Executive Committee and subject to environmental management programs, which could be extended to a further 16 zones, currently being evaluated.

Many of the zones are internationally recognized, such as the Guanahacabibes, Buenavista, Baco­nao and Cuchillas del Toa biosphere reserves, as well as the Alejandro de Humboldt and Desembarco del Granma national parks, also declared Natural World Heritage sites.
Created with the aim of supporting conservation efforts, promoting the sustainable use of the country’s natural environment and heritage, as well as other resources, the protected areas are home to a diversity of fauna and flora with endemic species constituting over 95 and 85%, respectively.

(Granma)

Celso Pasos, director general of the scientific institution spoke to Granma in this regard, referring to the country’s national weather and climate monitoring network, and the current focus on the drought affecting agricultural production.

We pay a lot of attention, he said, to the short and long-term rainfall forecasts, which impact on crops as well as livestock activities.

“Currently our observations are employed in exchanges with a temporary working group led by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources in order to analyze the effects of drought in all sectors.”

Pasos explained that highly qualified personnel allow for thorough investigative work to be undertaken, the result of a government strategy which also seeks continuous technological development.

According to the official, Cuba today has some 100 weather observation stations, integrated in a functional network, the result of state efforts and foreign cooperation projects, the latter promoted by the prestige of national meteorologists.

The 31 automated weather stations acquired recently were installed in locations which formerly lacked observation possibilities. These facilitate studies, helping to improve provincial meteorological centers, whose forecast departments have benefited from computers and communications equipment, among other things.

The establishment of mechanisms to generate information for timely decision-making has also been demonstrated, Pasos noted, with the operation of early warning systems, which have been crucial in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma and Las Tunas.

Visiting Holguín for a meeting in which meteorologists from across the country evaluated ways to enhance the effectiveness of their work, the official highlighted the efforts of colleagues in this area, who have conducted important climate and agrometeorological studies, as well as providing services to various sectors of the economy.

Current forecasts note that although the phenomenon usually leads to a deficit in seasonal rainfall, the rainy season is expected to begin, as is normal, in the month of May, at least in the western portion of the island, though not necessarily in the central and eastern regions.

INRH specialist, MSc. Idelmis Tamara González García, stated to Granma that the month of March may be quite changeable, with the possibility of severe weather and coastal flooding associated with cold fronts.

Reservoirs have benefited from the rain, having reached an average 52% of their capacity nationally. Water storage in the central region of the country, however, stands at only 13% of the historical average, while the situation in the city of Santiago de Cuba remains difficult, since 59 of its sources are irregular and 690,928 inhabitants are being supplied with water by tank trucks.

(Granma)