Connecting U.S. Solar to Cuba

Why now

On 18 September Cuba's grid collapsed nationwide, blacking out an island of about 9.4 million people. By the count of Cuban independent media, it was the eighth national collapse of 2026 [1][2]. On 5 October the state utility forecast a peak-hour shortfall of 1,920 MW, about three-fifths of demand [3]. Hospitals and water plants get power first. Shops, bakeries, and workshops wait.

Why the grid fails

The trigger is fuel. Venezuelan oil stopped after 3 January, and Mexico paused shipments after a U.S. tariff order on 29 January [4]. Cuba produces only about 40% of the crude its power plants need [5].

The root is neglect. Cuba runs eight aging thermal plants, some more than 40 years old [6]. Its biggest, Guiteras, broke down at least 17 times from January to July [7].

Havana blames the “blockade”; Washington blames the regime. Independent experts say both are true: “The blackouts have gotten much worse since January,” says William LeoGrande. Ted Henken adds that the U.S. oil blockade “certainly aggravated this situation, it did not create it” [8].

The need vs. what's met

The grid runs about 1,920 MW short at peak [3]. The state's 144 solar parks have about 1,418 MW of installed capacity, and they produce only in daylight [5]. U.S. suppliers shipped $6.3 million of solar cells and modules to Cuba from January to July, up 1,070% on the total for all of 2025 [5]. At about $0.30 a watt, that is roughly 20 MW, about 1% of the gap (our estimate). China sold about $117 million of panels to Cuba in 2025 [9].

Where energy goes, well-being and wealth grow. A bakery with power keeps its ovens, its hours, and its staff. Cuba has exempted solar systems and their parts from import duties through 2027 [10]. The demand is there; what's missing is a lawful way to pay.

What changed on 30 September

OFAC ended “U-turn” payments, barred indirect dealings with Restricted List entities, and removed the authorization for U.S. bank accounts of Cuban entrepreneurs [11]. The State Department said the aim was to “close legal loopholes” the regime used “to evade sanctions” and “enrich its elites” [12].

The side effect: the old way to buy panels ran from pesos to street dollars to a Panama account, then a wire to the factory. Cuban importers paid about 12% in fees along the way. Now the U.S. correspondent bank rejects that wire. Learn more: the 30 September rule · Ric Herrero on why U.S. banks never onboarded Cuban entrepreneurs

Why U.S. solar costs more

A Chinese module sells for about $0.11 a watt; a U.S.-assembled one, about $0.30 [13][14]. China holds around 85% of the global solar supply chain [15]. On a whole system the gap narrows, because batteries and inverters are most of the bill.

QvaPay’s fees on this route, from 14 October 2026: QvaPay Payments 5% on U.S.-made goods and 10% on others, plus QvaPort Logistics 5% — 10% all-in for U.S.-made goods and 15% for the rest, freight at cost. The route that closed cost about 12% of the invoice before freight. Financing for Cuban buyers is pending OFAC guidance.

Who makes it

U.S. solar makers to watch: Tandem PV, Swift Solar, Caelux, Erthos, and Paired Power. Allied makers: SMA (Germany), 3Sun (Italy), and Voltec (France). Featured solar companies

Florida distributors with U.S. inventory: Greentech Renewables (Tampa, Orlando), Krannich Solar (Lakeland), and Soligent (Orlando, Tampa) [16].

Where QvaPay fits

The Cuban business pays from its QvaPay account. QvaPay releases the money to the U.S. exporter against the invoice, the export authorization, and the shipping documents, and QvaPort, once formed, will consolidate the order in Florida. Every party is screened against sanctions lists. QvaPay pays nothing into a Cuban bank. How it works, step by step · Before and after, side by side

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