Havana, Cuba – Cubans are increasingly divided by the nation's deepening energy crisis, with some investing in costly solar power systems while others rely on charcoal to navigate daily blackouts. The stark contrast highlights a growing societal fault line exacerbated by prolonged electricity shortages.

Since the beginning of 2026, Cuba has grappled with one of its most severe energy crises in decades. An aging electrical grid, weakened by years of underinvestment and a decline in fuel imports from Venezuela, has led to widespread blackouts, often lasting more than 12 hours a day. This situation has forced citizens to seek alternative solutions for their energy needs.

In electronics stores across Havana, photovoltaic systems, lithium batteries, and solar-powered fans are on display. Customers like 61-year-old taxi driver Camilo Merejon examine the prices, noting that a three-kilowatt solar system costs $3,678, with larger installations exceeding $10,000. Merejon expressed the prohibitive cost, stating that while friends abroad offered help, the expense remained significant. He, like millions of Cubans, has become accustomed to extended periods without electricity, with his neighborhood recently experiencing a 26-hour outage.

The implications of this energy divide are profound. Those with financial resources, whether from private businesses, personal savings, or remittances from relatives abroad, are able to invest in renewable energy solutions. This offers them a degree of independence from the unreliable national grid. However, a significant portion of the population lacks such financial means.

For many, the only viable alternative to the failing grid is the return to charcoal. On the outskirts of Havana, in areas like Cotorro, charcoal is sold in large bags alongside homemade stoves. Amora Rodriguez, a charcoal vendor, reports unprecedented demand, stating, "More and more people are buying it because of the power outages. Things are becoming increasingly difficult." A bag of charcoal, costing around 2,500 Cuban pesos (approximately $4), represents nearly half of an average monthly salary, underscoring the economic disparity in energy access.

This reliance on charcoal is particularly visible in Havana's working-class neighborhoods and extends to other parts of the country. The environmental and health consequences of widespread charcoal use, alongside the economic burden it places on low-income families, are significant concerns.

Restaurant owner Aris Lopez Torres, however, has taken a different approach, investing in solar panels for her business along Havana's Malecon waterfront. Her decision reflects a growing trend among those who can afford it to bypass the national grid's instability, seeking reliable power for commercial and domestic use.

The crisis underscores Cuba's ongoing struggle to balance economic realities with the need for sustainable energy infrastructure. While the government has explored renewable energy options, the immediate solutions available to ordinary Cubans are starkly divided by economic circumstance, creating a tangible split in daily life across the island.