The article describes possible scenarios for the
future development of the Cuban electricity system. The plans of increasing
electricity supply from intermittent energy source like solar PV and wind power
create challenges in balancing the supply-demand in the context of varying load
curve. Different scenarios for future electricity demand are constructed based
on different potential paths for economic development and technological changes
in the consumption side. In addition, different scenarios for electricity
supply are constructed to reflect potential differences in the construction of
renewable electricity supply capacity. Also the potential use of energy
storage, in the form of pumped hydro capacity, is analysed. The storage
capacity can reduce the demand for peak power capacity. It can also reduce the
required ramping rates for the fossil fuel power plants for balancing supply
and demand. Scenarios are constructed using CubaLinda model having hourly
production and consumption calculations up to 2050. The model produces
information of fuel demand and the CO₂ emissions related to the
different scenarios as well as the costs of electricity production.