Cuba begins solar panel installation at Sandino stadium

The Augusto César Sandino baseball stadium in Santa Clara has begun installing solar panels to mitigate the severe electricity crisis affecting Cuba. Managed by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder), the project aims to provide power for the Leopardos de Villa Clara during the National Baseball Series. If successful, the venue could become the first baseball stadium in the country to utilize its own photovoltaic generation.

The installation comes amid widespread daily blackouts and a significant shortage of imported fuel. The Ministry of Energy and Mines has reported that over 1,200 megawatts of technically available capacity remain ungenerated due to fuel scarcity. While state media presents the expansion of photovoltaic systems as part of an “energy transition,” the country continues to seek various alternatives to combat power shortages, including the use of sawdust and marabú for cooking in some regions.

Funding remains a primary obstacle for larger-scale projects, such as a proposed installation for the Estadio Latinoamericano, which was estimated to cost approximately 600,000 euros. The current efforts at the Sandino stadium follow similar, smaller-scale solar implementations at other facilities, such as the La Polar football stadium in Havana.