Incentives for the use of renewable energies in the residential sector

Within the framework of the European Programme to Support Cuba’s Energy Policy, the National Office for the Rational Use of Energy (ONURE) organised a virtual workshop on proposals for incentives to introduce efficient technologies and renewable energy sources in the residential sector and for small private entrepreneurs on the demand side. 

The event took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) of the Republic of Cuba and was coordinated by the Exchange of experiences project, managed by FIIAPP and the Energy Efficiency project, managed by UNIDO; both integrated into the Support programme for Cuba’s Energy Policy, financed by the European Union.  

As of the publication of Decree-Law 345, which establishes the development of renewable sources and the efficient use of energy, the need for mechanisms that encourage the use of renewable energy sources has been incorporated, particularly in the residential sector and in small businesses that can benefit from this form of power generation. 

The workshop’s purpose was to analyse and discuss a study of these incentive mechanisms that presents best practices and experiences from countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Successful cases from Germany, Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile and Denmark, regarding the application of rates and investment actions and their regulatory framework, were analysed in order to promote the introduction of the use of renewable energy sources for the small-scale generation of electricity. At the same time, proposals put forward by the study were presented on recommendations and proposals for the application of incentive mechanisms adapted to the island’s needs. 

Participating in the encounter were representatives from ONURE, the Gómez Pardo Foundation, the Central Bank of Cuba, Ministry of Economy and Planning, Ministry of Higher Education (University of Havana), Ministry of Finance and Prices, Ministry of Internal Trade, the National Electric Union, the General Customs of the Republic, the National Tax Administration Office and the Industrial Automation Company.