Leaders, experts and representatives from Central American and Caribbean countries are taking part this week in the course “Energy Transitions in Central America and the Caribbean,” organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, and the University of Havana. The event, held in the Cuban capital, aims to strengthen technical and human capacities for the planning, implementation and oversight of renewable energy projects, particularly photovoltaic generation.
The opening day featured presentations on the Regional Energy Outlook for Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean; a comparative law study on the policy and regulatory framework for solar energy in the Caribbean; and an analysis of Caribbean and Central American countries’ efforts to incorporate renewable energy into their electricity mixes.
Opening the event, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo Smitmans, emphasized that “the energy transition is not a destination, but a collective process that requires political vision, technical planning, regional collaboration and, above all, people committed to transformation”. He added that the program “is designed to train trainers in order to amplify its impact”.
The rector of the University of Havana, Miriam Nicado García, noted that the institution is working together with the Ministry of Energy and Mines on a sustainability and energy transition strategy that involves all national stakeholders.
For his part, Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Argelio Abad Vigoa, stressed that “there is no time to lose. Under the Paris Agreements, we must reduce emissions and increase energy resilience”. He noted that countries like Cuba are already making progress on major solar park projects, grid modernization and energy efficiency, but warned that the path ahead requires greater solidarity and collective action.
As part of the event, OLACDE and the University of Havana signed a memorandum of understanding to develop joint academic training programs, specialist exchanges and internships, as well as to design and carry out technological innovation projects in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, hydrocarbons, electricity, nuclear energy and energy planning.
The program includes an intensive workshop with theoretical and hands-on activities on solar radiation, photovoltaic module design and certification, technical measurements, solar park operation and maintenance, panel recycling, and the preparation of specifications for renewable energy projects. Participants will also carry out hands-on work at the University of Havana’s Photovoltaic Laboratory and visit solar installations in Matanzas to apply what they have learned in the field.
The event, which runs through August 8, brings together government representatives, technicians and experts from both subregions to discuss the challenges of the energy transition and build roadmaps tailored to the realities of Central America and the Caribbean.
