Solar Power Initiative for Schools In Cuba

FutureWatch partnered with The Hispanic Canadian Heritage Council and other invested partners in developing a project to bring reliable, renewable electricity to ten public schools in Holguín Province, Cuba. With communities experiencing frequent power interruptions and reduced electricity availability, schools can face disruptions to essential activities such as classroom lighting, water pumping, computer use, educational technology and administrative operations.

Each participating school will receive a Canadian 10 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system with battery storage, providing approximately 100 kW of total solar generating capacity across the ten schools. The systems will focus on essential school needs, helping maintain basic educational operations when electricity from the national grid is unavailable. Battery storage will allow energy generated by the solar panels to be stored for use when needed, providing schools with greater energy reliability. Equipment will be shipped from Toronto, with trained Cuban electricians and technicians supporting installation and ongoing maintenance.

FutureWatch EDEP saw this project as an opportunity to respond to a practical community need while bringing together two important priorities: education and environmental sustainability

By supporting ten schools, the project aims to improve educational continuity and create more reliable learning environments for students and teachers. Involving Cuban technicians in installation and maintenance will also help build local capacity and support the long-term sustainability of the systems.

While the immediate focus is on these ten schools, the project can also demonstrate what small-scale, distributed renewable energy can make possible for public institutions. If successful, the approach could provide a foundation for future initiatives supporting additional schools and other essential community facilities, including medical clinics.