From solar to charcoal, Cubans look for alternatives amid outages and fuel shortages

Some Cubans who’ve been able to buy solar panels say it’s a game changer, but most rely on other alternatives including charcoal, despite health concerns and the steep cost.

HAVANA — Cuba’s energy crisis was taking a toll on Guillermo Sánchez’s business.

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He invested in a gasoline-operated generator in 2024, after electric cables fell near Casablanca, the gym he opened 13 years ago, hindering his ability to get electricity. But by last year, gasoline was in short supply, so it wasn’t a reliable solution during the country’s constant blackouts.

That’s when Sánchez, his wife and his mother chipped in for a solar panel system. It cost almost $5,000, something well out of reach for most Cubans, who struggle to buy food and basic necessities.