Cuba Going Green: The Solarization of Granma Province

This case study describes the efforts of Granma province in Cuba to become a 100-percent renewably powered model for the rest of the country. As of 2013, the province had implemented a diverse array of renewable energy systems, including solar PV, mini-hydropower, wind-powered water pumps, and biomass energy from sugar mill waste and biodigestors.

• The Cuban government aims for the island to generate 24 percent of its energy from renewables by 2030, with Granma province serving as a model by striving to be 100-percent renewably powered. In 2013, renewables provided 37 percent of the energy consumed in Granma, which then had 3,664 renewable energy systems in operation.
• Solar energy is extensively used in Granma to power remote infrastructure; the province has 1,628 small off-grid PV systems for homes, schools, and medical facilities. Nationally, all 2,364 rural schools without grid access are powered by wind turbines or solar panels, including those with only one student.
• Hydropower and wind energy contribute to Granma's energy mix through 36 mini- and micro-hydropower plants producing over 7 MW, with 1,740 kW feeding into the grid. Additionally, 172 homes use nano-hydro generators (under 1 kW) created from bicycle dynamos and car alternators. The province also utilizes 938 windmills for water pumping and has a potential wind capacity exceeding 800 MW.
• Biomass and waste-to-energy initiatives in Granma include 11 sugar mills producing 29 MW of electricity from bagasse, 127 biodigestors using animal waste for cooking or lighting, and a 20-acre Jatropha farm producing biodiesel for tractors. The province also uses biomass (such as coffee husks and sawdust) in 135 brick kilns, 632 domestic kitchens, and 14 commercial dryers.
• To reach the national 2030 goal, Cuba plans to add 750 MW of biomass, 700 MW of PV, and 640 MW of wind capacity, seeking over $9 billion in foreign investment for more than 200 new projects.

APA

RMI (2015). Cuba Going Green: The Solarization of Granma Province. https://rmi.org/resources/cuba-going-green-solarization-granma-province/

Chicago

RMI. Cuba Going Green: The Solarization of Granma Province. 2015. https://rmi.org/resources/cuba-going-green-solarization-granma-province/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Cuba Going Green: The Solarization of Granma Province |date=14 January 2015 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/cuba-going-green-solarization-granma-province/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2015cuba, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Cuba Going Green: The Solarization of Granma Province}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2015}, month = jan, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/cuba-going-green-solarization-granma-province/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }