Cuba’s Green Revolution? Betting on China-Backed Renewables Amid an Energy Crisis

As climate change intensifies extreme weather and fuel shortages worsen, Cuba is facing one of the most severe energy crises in its history. Aging oil-fired power plants, chronic blackouts, and restricted access to fuel—tightened by United States sanctions—have pushed the island’s electricity system to the brink, disrupting health care, food production, water access, and daily life.

In response, the Cuban government is accelerating a shift toward renewable energy, betting on large-scale solar and wind projects backed by financing and technology from China. Officials present the transition as both a leap toward energy independency and a climate solution. Yet progress has been slow, hampered by technical challenges, delays, and limited transparency.

This reporting project examines Cuba’s high-stakes energy transition amid a national energy emergency. Through on-the-ground reporting, expert interviews, and data-driven insights, it explores whether renewables can stabilize the grid in time, who benefits from the shift, and how geopolitical pressures are shaping the future of energy on the Caribbean island.