Cuba energy mix & electricity
In 2024, Cuba generated 19.4 TWh of electricity. The supply is almost entirely oil, which accounted for 82.3% of generation; natural gas made up most of the remainder (13.6%).
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 16 | 82.3% | +1.1 |
| Gas | 2.65 | 13.6% | −0.7 |
| Bioenergy | 0.35 | 1.8% | −1.5 |
| Solar | 0.24 | 1.2% | +0.8 |
| Hydro | 0.12 | 0.6% | +0.1 |
| Wind | 0.07 | 0.4% | +0.3 |
| Total | 19.43 | 100% |
Cuba: electricity in context
In 2024, Cuba generated 19.4 TWh of electricity. That is similar to Zambia. The supply is almost entirely oil, which accounted for 82.3% of generation; natural gas made up most of the remainder (13.6%).
The renewable share stood at 4%, placing Cuba 141st of 158 ranked countries (in the bottom quarter). This puts it 30 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for North America (28.8%). The carbon intensity of electricity is 643 g CO₂e/kWh; the global average is 458 g/kWh. That makes it one of the more carbon-intensive grids in the world. On carbon intensity, Cuba ranks 134th of 158 from the cleanest.
Over the past decade oil added more generation than any other source (+210 GWh since 2014, plus 1.1 percentage points of share). Bioenergy moved the other way, falling by 290 GWh. Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point).
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Cuba in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 1.6% of electricity (solar 1.2%, wind 0.4%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 22 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh.
Cuba generates 1,770 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 46% of the global average. Cuba does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Cuba against the world and North America averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 7,640 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Cuba
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 14 utility-scale plants in Cuba with a combined capacity of 3.8 GW. Oil plants account for the largest slice (89% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Havana TPP (500 MW, Oil). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havana TPP | Oil | 500 | — | — |
| 2 | Lidio Perez (felton) Powerplant | Oil | 500 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 3 | Antonio Maceo (rente) Powerplant | Oil | 450 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 4 | Máximo Gómez (Mariel) | Oil | 450 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 5 | Carlos De Cespedes Powerplant | Oil | 382 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 6 | Antonio Guiteras Powerplant | Oil | 330 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 7 | Santa Cruz | Oil | 300 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 8 | 10 De Octubre (nuevitas) Powerplant | Oil | 280 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 9 | Boca de Jaruco | Gas | 238 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 10 | Eg Punta Gorda Powerplant | Oil | 175 | — | Grupo Electrogeno |
| 11 | Varadero Powerplant | Gas | 173 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 12 | Gibara | Wind | 10 | — | Unión Eléctrica |
| 13 | Yaguaramas | Solar | 5 | — | — |
| 14 | Pinar del Rio | Solar | 4 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 14 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Cuba
117 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 841 MW of solar and 2 MW of wind operating, plus 1.8 GW under construction or planned.
How does Cuba compare?
Cuba next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | 4% | 4% | 96% | 643 | 1,770 | 19.4 | — | |
| Cayman Islands | 4.2% | 4.2% | 95.8% | 634 | 9,533 | 0.7 | Compare | |
| Jamaica | 12.6% | 12.6% | 87.4% | 563 | 1,733 | 4.9 | Compare | |
| Bahamas | 0.9% | 0.9% | 99.1% | 653 | 5,607 | 2.3 | Compare | |
| Haiti | 18.6% | 18.6% | 81.4% | 535 | 73 | 0.9 | Compare | |
| Honduras | 55.4% | 55.4% | 44.6% | 322 | 1,153 | 12.5 | Compare | |
| Dominican Republic | 23.8% | 23.8% | 76.2% | 537 | 1,969 | 22.7 | Compare | |
| North America average | 28.8% | 44.7% | 55.3% | 369 | 9,025 | 5,534 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Cuba
Cuba energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Cuba is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Cuba?
How clean is the electricity in Cuba?
Does Cuba have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Cuba use per person?
How much solar power does Cuba produce?
More countries in North America
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.