Triangular cooperation between Germany, Mexico and Cuba: strengthening Cuba‘s sustainable energy sector

Project description

Title: Creation of institutional capacities for the development of programmes, products and energy efficiency and solar energy applications in industry in Cuba
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Mexico
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba (MINCEX), Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID)
Overall term: 2020 to 2022

DSC00782

Context

Cuba wants to reduce its CO2 emissions and put an end to its reliance on fossil fuels. The country currently generates 95 per cent of its energy from fossil fuels, but is aiming to increase the proportion of energy produced from renewable sources to 37 per cent by 2030.

Over the last ten years, Cuba has worked on enhancing its knowledge of photovoltaic system technology, solar-powered hot water systems and energy efficiency. It has set up an expert committee for these technologies and now faces the challenge of exploiting the benefits of renewable energy sources in Cuban industry.

Cuba boasts state-of-the-art research and training centres, but needs to improve in the areas of standardisation and certification. The intention is to draw on the local experiences of the project's Mexican and German partners to help with this.

DSC00926

Objective

The Cuban government and relevant institutions in the energy sector, research and industry have the scientific and technological capabilities required to harness renewable energies and energy efficiency for the benefit of the country's industry.

Approach

The project is working with local experts to foster scientific and technological exchange between Mexico and Cuba in the fields of solar thermal energy and photovoltaics.

Based on Mexico’s own experiences involving renewable energy, the project has developed a programme to promote the use of solar-powered hot water systems in Cuban industry. This programme paves the way for technology to be used reliably and meaningfully in an industrial setting.

The project is also working on a comprehensive system to enable Cuban industry to benefit from renewable energies and energy efficiency, and is supporting local certification systems that should result in qualified workers.

The previous phase of the project laid the foundations for a sales programme for solar heating systems and provided training for 180 Cuban experts.

Last update: July 2021

DSC00979

Additional information