Cuba Windmills and Solar Panel PVs

Cuba is an island nation situated in the Caribbean Sea, near the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The most densely populated areas in the country are the cities of Havana and Guantanamo. Due to oil shortages, power outages have become a serious problem in some municipalities in Cuba. Currently, 84% of Cuban electricity is mainly generated by oil, with the main oil exporters for Cuba being Russia and Venezuela.

In this case study, we will focus primarily on analyzing the feasibility of integrating renewable energy sources into the country's electricity grid to improve resilience and reduce fossil import dependency.

Cuba's renewable energy sector has significant untapped potential, especially in biomass, solar photovoltaic (PV), and wind energy resources. The abundance of biomass resources in the country, such as marabu, sugarcane leftovers, and agricultural waste, presents great potential for bioenergy generation. Furthermore, Cuba's geographical location and temperature make it ideal for harvesting solar energy via PV systems. Wind energy is also a feasible renewable option due to the island's coastal regions and favorable wind patterns.

India for Urban Sustainability

Project: Husk Power Systems (HPS)
Location: Bihar, India
Technology: Biomass gasification microgrids
Objective: To generate clean, reliable electricity for rural communities using agricultural waste.

Husk Power Systems is an Indian company that pioneered the use of rice husks to generate electricity through biomass gasification. The company sets up decentralized microgrids to provide electricity to villages in Bihar, where grid power is unreliable or unavailable. These microgrids power homes, businesses, and community facilities.

Impact:
- Electrification: HPS has electrified over 600 villages and impacted more than 200,000 people.
- Sustainability: Biomass gasification uses agricultural waste, which is otherwise discarded, to produce clean electricity.
- Economic Development: By providing a reliable energy source, HPS supports local businesses and entrepreneurship, creating new job opportunities.
- Environmental Impact: The system reduces CO2 emissions by replacing diesel generators and kerosene lighting.

Challenges:
- Operational Scale: While biomass is abundant, scaling the technology to more villages requires significant investment and overcoming logistical issues.
- Social Acceptance: Convincing rural communities to adopt new technologies and pay for electricity requires extensive awareness campaigns.

Key Takeaways: Husk Power Systems showcases the potential of decentralized, renewable energy solutions for rural India. By using locally available resources and creating a viable business model, HPS has provided a blueprint for micro power generation that can be replicated in other rural areas.

Kenya: Solar Power in Rural Communities

Project: M-KOPA Solar
Location: Rural Kenya
Technology: Solar PV microgrids
Objective: To provide affordable, decentralized power solutions to households without access to the national grid.

M-KOPA Solar is a leading company in Kenya providing solar-powered microgrids for rural communities with limited or no access to electricity. By leveraging a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model, M-KOPA enables customers to acquire small solar home systems, which they can pay for over time using mobile payments. The system includes a solar panel, battery storage, and essential appliances like LED bulbs, phone chargers, and radios.

Impact:
- Electrification: Over 750,000 homes have been connected, benefiting 3 million people.
- Affordability: The PAYG model is significantly cheaper than traditional energy sources like kerosene, making it accessible to low-income households.
- Sustainability: This model reduces reliance on fossil fuels and supports Kenya’s energy transition to renewables.

Challenges:
- Limited financing options, system maintenance, and local technical capacity remain challenges, though progress is being made.

Key Takeaways: The M-KOPA model demonstrates how decentralized micro-power generation can be a sustainable and scalable solution for energy-poor regions in Africa. The use of mobile technology for payments enhances financial inclusion, and the solar systems help reduce household reliance on harmful and expensive energy sources.