At an electronics store in central Havana, Camilo Merejon, a 61-year-old taxi driver, carefully examines several solar energy systems displayed on the floor. Around him, customers move past solar panels, lithium batteries, and solar-powered fans, comparing prices and asking sales staff for details.
He fixes his gaze on the price tags. A 3-kilowatt solar system costs $3,678, while a 10-kilowatt system exceeds $10,000.
“To cover basic needs, three kilowatts might be enough,” he says. “My Italian friends want to help me buy one, but it’s extremely expensive.”
Like millions of Cubans, Camilo has grown used to living without electricity for long stretches. On the day he visited this store, his neighborhood of Regla had been without power for 26 straight hours.
