Macroeconomic and indirect benefits of efficiency
Can the world learn anything from a country like Cuba, with its low standards of living and repressive government? Yes, says German expert Dieter Seifried – the country as a whole does not have to be a role model for the world for a particular energy policy to provide us with useful lessons.
The real standard in judging the success of Cuba's Energy Revolution of 2005 is whether it made people's lives better. Seifried says the outcome is a mixed bag. "Cuba is a developing country, and life is simply tougher than it is in the West – at least for those who do not earn dollars. It is also not a free country – not a democracy, and there is no freedom of expression." The Energy Revolution changed none of that. On the other hand, as he points out, Cuban has an excellent education system and a good health system for all of the Cubans – “which other countries can compare?” he asks.
So did the Energy Revolution actually improve people's lives? "I wouldn't say the Cubans generally have a greater standard of living now than before," he says, "but the switch from kerosene to electric cookers in particular in roughly 2 million households did make a big difference for them. That is true help progress. In other respects, the Energy Revolution mainly has a beneficial impact on governmental budgets and on the economy, not households or individuals." Seifried puts the figure at 400 million euros from more efficient lighting and refrigerators alone.
This outcome is not entirely surprising. Solar Home Systems – which consist of solar panels and batteries – have been provided to developing countries for off-grid households for years now. By providing lights in the evening and power for radios and black-and-white TVs, they allow people to work and study more and give them access to media. The result is not, however, always greater income, but usually is greater demand for electricity.
In Cuba, Solar Home Systems were mainly used in clinics and other facilities, not in households, however. The result was better health care and other public services. Tomorrow, we wrap up this series with some lessons Seifried draws for his home country of Germany – and you can draw your own for your home. (Craig Morris)
Cuba has two vast natural resources to tap renewable energy not available in most of the world.
1, The trade winds, otherwise known as the prevailing easterlies, never stop. That means on mountain tops and anywhere over the ocean near the shore you will have a 24/7 wind of 8 to 15 mph.
2. The solar insolation value at their latitude is extremely high. This means any PV will get more energy per unit of area than farther north.
By the way, Cuba is also a pioneer in soil remediation micro organisms and biofertilizers that encourage soil microbe growth rather than killing them like chemical fertilizers do. Because of that, they have a large organic, pesticide free amount of produce. Allthat adds up to less use of fossil fuels. Google cuba and organics or Cuban biopesticides and Cuban biofertilizers for more information.
Another perspective on Cuba's achievements in electric resilience is at www.rmi.org/Knowledge-Center/Library/2010-23_CubaElectricity. — Amory B. Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org)
I agree with Ed. "Low standards of living and repressive government" is a very opinionated comment. Cuba happens to rank higher on human development indicators than the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean and the majority of the world. Cuba has the same or higher life expectancy, literacy rate, mean years of schooling, and lower infant mortality rate than the U.S.
As far as improving people's lives, Cuba's energy revolution provided much more reliable power to Cubans throughout the entire island. You can read an article I wrote about the impacts of the Cuban Energy Revolution here: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/la-revolucion-energetica-cubas-energy-revolution
"country like Cuba, with its low standards of living and repressive government?" Who says? A very right wing view, I think. Their education, health services and low energy living is something the US could learn from.
Cuba's mistake is trying to manufacture solar panels. Germany, the USA and Japan - the worlds three most advanced industrial countries - can't compete with Chinese costs, and it's absurd for a backwater like Cuba to try. At best it can try to move up the value chain from installation to mountings to panel assembly. Chile is moving faster into solar than Brazil and Mexico because it's less protectionist, but these are still the three countries to watch.