Cuba is enduring a catastrophic energy crisis. Rolling blackouts have now become a permanent fixture for millions, but a particularly harrowing consequence is emerging: the trapping of high-rise residents in their own homes. When the grid fails, elevators cease to function, water pumps fall silent, and communication networks go dark. For those living above the 10th floor, particularly the elderly and disabled, this is not an inconvenience but a physical prison. The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated. This is a machine failure on a national scale, a grid that has been starved of investment and maintenance for decades, compounded by an inability to procure fuel and spare parts due to the US embargo.
But this is not just a story about one nation. It is a parable for the fragility of centralised energy systems everywhere. In the face of climate change, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, and aging infrastructure is being pushed to its limits. The question we must ask is: what does energy resilience actually look like? And the answer, surprisingly, may be found in the United Kingdom.
Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, has recently implemented a new framework for local energy resilience. It incentivises the creation of microgrids: small scale, decentralised networks that can operate independently of the main grid. The concept is elegant. Instead of one monolithic power structure, you have a network of smaller, interconnected units. When the main grid fails, these units can “island” themselves, continuing to supply power to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, water pumps, and yes, elevators in high-rise buildings. The UK model combines gas-fired backup generators, battery storage, and increasing penetration of solar photovoltaic and wind power. It is not a silver bullet, but it is a pragmatic solution that prioritises reliability over ideological purity.
For Cuba, the transition would require a fundamental shift in thinking. The island currently relies on large, inefficient oil-fired power plants that are decades past their design life. To move to a distributed model, Cuba would need to invest in solar panels, battery storage, and smart inverters. But the upfront costs are high, and the embargo severely restricts access to foreign financing and technology. However, there is a path. Small-scale solar installations have already begun to flourish in the private sector, and Cuba has a highly educated population capable of maintaining advanced systems. The key is scaling these efforts and integrating them into a cohesive strategy.
The lesson for the rest of the world is clear. Centralised grids are a vulnerability. As we pump more carbon into the atmosphere, the weather becomes more erratic. Heatwaves, storms, and floods will test our infrastructure to breaking point. The UK’s model shows that resilience is achievable through diversification and localisation. It may not be a perfect solution, but it is vastly superior to the current state of affairs. The time for calm urgency is now. We must act before the next blackout becomes a deathtrap.
