A wave of blackouts has plunged large sections of Havana into darkness, with residents of high-rise buildings left without power for extended periods as the island nation’s ageing energy infrastructure buckles under demand. The rolling blackouts, which began earlier this week, have exposed the fragility of Cuba’s grid, a system heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels and inefficient generation plants. In stark contrast, the United Kingdom’s energy resilience model, built on a diversified mix of renewables, interconnectors, and demand-side management, has allowed it to weather similar supply pressures with minimal disruption.
Data from Cuba’s state-run electricity utility (UNE) indicates that generation capacity has fallen short of peak demand by as much as 20 per cent in recent days. The shortfall is attributed to a combination of unplanned outages at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant and reduced imports of Venezuelan crude, a lifeline that has become unreliable. For residents in the capital’s 30-storey concrete towers, the blackouts mean more than just inconvenience. Without power for lifts, water pumps, and lighting, daily life grinds to a halt. Medical equipment fails, food spoils, and communication networks collapse.
“The high-rise problem is particularly acute because these buildings were designed for a grid that could supply constant power,” said Dr. Maria Concepción, an energy analyst at the University of Havana. “Without backup generators, residents are trapped in what are essentially vertical slums during outages.” Photographs from this week show families descending darkened stairwells with torches, while others gather on rooftops seeking relief from the tropical heat.
Compare this to the UK’s approach. The British grid has maintained a capacity margin of around 15 per cent above peak demand this winter, supported by a mix of of renewables, gas-fired plants, and electricity imports via interconnectors. The National Grid ESO has also implemented a demand flexibility service, paying households to reduce usage during peak times. This system, called “Demand Flexibility Service” avoided potential blackouts during the cold snap in December 2023, when wind generation dropped unexpectedly.
The contrast is not merely technical but systemic. Cuba’s energy crisis is decades in the making. The US embargo has prevented upgrades to key components, while the collapse of the Soviet Union ended cheap oil subsidies. The UK, by contrast, has invested in a smart grid that allows real-time balancing and a regulatory framework that incentivises private investment.
However, the UK model is not without vulnerabilities. It relies heavily on imported energy: in 2023, the UK imported about 40 per cent of its gas from Norway and the US, and 15 per cent of its electricity from France. Geopolitical tensions could threaten these supply lines. Yet the key difference is resilience. Cuba’s system has no margin for error. When a single plant fails, it triggers cascading blackouts. The UK grid, while not immune to disruption, can absorb shocks through redundancy.
Climate change adds a further layer of urgency. Both islands face more frequent extreme weather events. Hurricanes are a perennial threat to Cuba’s grid; in 2022, Hurricane Ian knocked out power to the entire island. The UK faces storms that can damage overhead lines, but the underground infrastructure in cities like London reduces vulnerability.
The lesson from Cuba is clear: energy resilience requires upfront investment. The UK spends roughly 2 per cent of GDP on energy infrastructure annually. Cuba’s spending is a fraction of that. As global warming intensifies, the gap between resilient and brittle grids will widen. For now, those in Havana’s high-rises endure a daily reminder of what happens when a nation cannot keep the lights on.
