The lights went out across Cuba this week, and for thousands trapped in high-rise apartments in Havana, the darkness was a stark reminder of infrastructure fragility. As the island nation grapples with rolling blackouts, the United Kingdom's approach to energy resilience offers a template for nations facing similar vulnerabilities. Dr. Helena Vance, Science & Climate Correspondent, reports on the physical realities of grid failure and the lessons from across the Atlantic.
The crisis in Cuba stems from a confluence of ageing power plants, fuel shortages, and extreme weather exacerbated by a warming climate. Tropical storms have damaged transmission lines, while rising temperatures increase demand for cooling. The result: a grid buckling under stress, leaving residents in high-rises without elevators, water pumps, or refrigeration. For those on upper floors, the climb is treacherous; for the elderly or ill, it is life-threatening. This is not abstract. It is the physics of energy supply meeting human need.
Compare this to the United Kingdom, where a decade of policy has built a more resilient grid. The British system relies on diversity: nuclear provides baseload, gas and biomass fill gaps, and renewables like wind and solar contribute a growing share. Storage capacity, from pumped hydro to industrial-scale batteries, buffers against intermittency. The result is a grid that, while not perfect, can better absorb shocks. During Storm Eunice in 2022, widespread wind damage did cause outages, but restoration was rapid. The difference lies in redundancy: multiple pathways for power to reach homes.
Cuba's geography poses unique challenges. An island, it lacks interconnectors to neighbours that could share surplus power. Its reliance on imported fossil fuels makes it vulnerable to supply disruptions. The solution must be tailored: distributed solar with battery storage, microgrids for critical infrastructure, and efficiency measures to reduce load. Britain's experience shows that resilience is not a single technology but a portfolio. For example, the UK's smart meter rollout allows real-time demand management, reducing strain during peaks. Such systems cost money, but the cost of failure is higher.
The energy transition is not a luxury for the rich. It is a survival strategy for all. As the planet warms, extreme events will multiply, and grids must adapt. The UK's model of gradual decarbonisation while maintaining reliability is a pragmatic path. For Cuba, international aid could accelerate this transition. Solar panels on Havana's high-rises, backed by community batteries, could keep elevators running even when the wider grid fails. It is engineering, not ideology.
I have analysed global energy systems for two decades. The pattern is clear: nations that invest in grid resilience today avoid humanitarian crises tomorrow. Cuba's blackouts are a warning, not an anomaly. The question is whether allies will learn from the British example before their own lights go out.
