China Is Helping Drive Cuba's Solar Boom (washingtonpost.com) 151
AleRunner writes: "China is helping Cuba race to capture renewable solar energy as the United States imposes an effective oil blockade on the Caribbean island, creating its worst energy crisis in decades," reports The Washington Post. Later in the article, it states that "China's decades-long push into clean energy technology is now helping to protect it from the soaring oil and gas crisis spurred by Trump's war against Iran," and that "Chinese exports of solar equipment to Cuba skyrocketed from about $5 million in 2023 to $117 million in 2025 and show no sign of stopping." According to researchers from Ember, solar could be responsible for as much as 10% of Cuba's electricity generation. "That would be among the fastest expansions of solar energy anywhere [...] and place Cuba ahead of most countries -- including the U.S. -- in the share of electricity generated by sun power," the report says.
As the Iran war drives energy prices higher, countries around the world are working overtime to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. China sees this as a big opportunity. "Chinese authorities have made clear that they intend to replicate what they're doing in Cuba elsewhere," reports the Washington Post.
As the Iran war drives energy prices higher, countries around the world are working overtime to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. China sees this as a big opportunity. "Chinese authorities have made clear that they intend to replicate what they're doing in Cuba elsewhere," reports the Washington Post.
gee, I guess the U.S. missed the memo (Score:5, Interesting)
Now that el Bunko has pocketed all those billions from Arab Gulf countries (into his personal accounts and not the U.S. Treasury) and the extra dosh from American petro companies, suddenly renewable energy is looking a lot better. And it looks like the U.S. will have to guarantee the Arab Gulf countries' security for quite a while. el Bunko only wants $200 Billion in extra money to pay for the security of Arab Gulf countries, and higher gas prices for the American consumers. This after jerking healthcare from millions of American by xing out a measly $34 Billion in the Big Dumb Bill.
Too bad the U.S. went down the rat hole with el Bunko. And the fun doesn't stop there. Climate change from the extra atmospheric carbon is sterilizing the American West.
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And it looks like the U.S. will have to guarantee the Arab Gulf countries' security for quite a while.
I'm not sure the US is capable of honouring that guarantee just now. From what I've heard, it seems that - aside from nukes - the armaments cupboard is pretty bare.
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From what I've heard, it seems that - aside from nukes - the armaments cupboard is pretty bare.
The US is low on THAAD high end interceptor missiles, and everyone (Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Taiwan, Korea, etc) wants Patriot missiles so there aren't enough for everyone (but production is steadily increasing).
Other than that, the bombs being dropped on Iran can be produced at a similar rate as they are being dropped.
We got the memo (Score:3)
It's a bit of a double-edged sword invading Cuba because the possibility is there
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We've been using energy policy to hurt Cuba for decades.
I don't mind sanctions. Any country that doesn't have free elections is a country we shouldn't be trading with.
Governments should not keep their people as slaves.
Re:We got the memo (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:gee, I guess the U.S. missed the memo (Score:4, Insightful)
Now that el Bunko has pocketed all those billions from Arab Gulf countries (into his personal accounts and not the U.S. Treasury)
I bet Qatar is pissed, they just got the worst return on a $400 million bribe in history.
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Was any of it incorrect?
China white knighting Cuba's US caused power... (Score:4, Interesting)
There's just no way Cubans can view US as the good guys if this works.
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There's just no way Cubans can view US as the good guys if this works.
What would ever make any Cubans at this point view the US as the good guys.
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Thats funny, I think the same thing about a certain US political party when they decide to blockade my vehicle and gas appliance purchasing options.
You mean how the Republicans keep compromising the Republican-created EPA and preventing us from having Chinese vehicles?
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Thats funny, I think the same thing about a certain US political party when they decide to blockade my vehicle and gas appliance purchasing options.
Protecting you from yourself and the destruction of society around you is not the same. In fact it's the exact opposite of systematically trying to fuck you over. Unfortunately the US government got to you too late to help you understand the difference. Fortunately we won't repeat that mistake. I have it under good authority that the US now leaves no child behind as per education policy.
Re: China white knighting Cuba's US caused power.. (Score:2)
Neither thing was banned. The sale of them in the state was but if you have one or bring it from another state (which remains legal per federal law) you can still use it, and you can still buy oil for it. Don't lie.
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The article seems to indicate that it won't, if Cuba has only met 10% of its power demands after massive expansion. It's a convinient place for China to ship excess capacity when saturating other markets.
Plus after what happened in Venezuela, it seems like Cuba is willing to make concessions to the USA.
V funny that Trump is pushing RoW to renewables (Score:3)
Given his visceral loathing for renewables, it is absolutely delightful to recognise that his push to recarbonise power systems has been substantially undone by his idiotic decisions in relation to Iran. Someone should send him a prize for services to the wind turbine, solar, battery and EV industries. If we're lucky that will send him completely over the edge and he'll have a stroke and end up with several of those disabilities he so enjoys mocking
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More correctly, it's called "electrification" not renewables.
It's just that many renewables produce electricity which is one of the more useful forms of energy out there as electric things are generally more efficient than their non-electric version.
Electricity is nice because it's a resource every country has access to at a basic level - pop up a few solar panels and you have electricity. Unlike other forms of energy where you need to be blessed with it - e.g., fossil fuels or nuclear.
Energy dependent coun
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I think he may have had TIAs, but he’s clearly not had a significant stroke. He’s not significantly aphasic, for example.
As for coal, I think the evidence is not supportive of your thesis: coal and oil are only weakly fungible. Oil has only been backup/peaking for power generation for a long time, coal can’t be used for transport, oil can’t be used for reducing iron ore, coal can’t be used for petrochemicals, neither are really used much for commercial / domestic heating, etc e
Re: V funny that Trump is pushing RoW to renewable (Score:2)
Coal could be used for transport, but not ironically it would only really make sense at all for trains, and they hate those too
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Paywalled, so I can't read it. But journos are notoriously shit at understanding energy markets, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's shoddy analysis.
Just think this through: you're an Asian country faced with a shortage of oil and LNG. That means that you don't have petrol and diesel for transportation, and you don't have gas for heating. How does coal help with any of that?
Sun blocking blimps (Score:2)
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or drones attacking solar farms
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Re: Sun blocking blimps (Score:3)
"Far dumber things get posted everyday in complete seriousness."
Then stop fucking posting.
It's an experiment (Score:2)
To see if a nation can survive and oil blockade with solar alone, which is what China will need to do if they go to war
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China has enough coal for the next century at least and have been expanding their coal liquefaction capability
Iâ(TM)m glad China is helping Cuba (Score:3, Insightful)
Iâ(TM)m glad China is helping Cuba with renewable energy infrastructure. Humans need energy to live. Cubans are human. Humans helping humans in need is a good thing.
Yes, there are many complex geopolitical currents surrounding all that is going onâ¦however, in general, helping people in need is good behavior and making people needy is bad behavior.
We need more humans to engage in good behavior right now.
Need to invest in wind power, too. (Score:2)
100% solar (Score:2)
According to researchers from Ember, solar could be responsible for as much as 10% of Cuba's electricity generation.
The way things are going, solar will soon be responsible for 100% of Cuba's electricity generation. Easy to do when all other power plants stop working. The question is, what percentage of energy demand will solar be able to satisfy, and at what cost.
Re:I am never disappointed (Score:4, Funny)
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So what is stupid about this? The idea of having energy independence by generating your own (which would help stop Cuba's current oppression by the US?) The idea that cheap Chinese panels help with this? The idea that the Iran War has spiked energy prices around the world? The idea that a small country is suddenly massively adopting solar?
What part of this is a stupid take? I mean other than your comment of course, which seems to make absolutely no point...
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Maybe the U.S. could import a shit-ton of Chinese solar panels and then use them to generate energy. That would prevent those windmills in Iowa from killing whales.
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That's the second time in a few minutes that you've made me laugh out loud - thanks!
Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:5, Insightful)
That is an interesting take. Of course what actually happened is that the USA tried (and are still trying) to impose an involuntary servitude on Cuba, and Cuba is doing what it can to survive. Voluntary is better than involuntary. Regardless, thank the USA for that situation.
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China is taking the long-term view here, building up goodwill in Cuba and in other countries where they see themselves potentially in the same situation. I hope they realise that military action with Taiwan would do a lot of damage to that goodwill.
Why is the US still bullying Cuba in the first place? It is not as though Cuba is a threat.
Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:5, Interesting)
Why is the US still bullying Cuba in the first place? It is not as though Cuba is a threat.
Bullies are inherently lacking courage and typically don't go after real threats. That's why they pick on weaker kids - and nations - which they don't like.
The US is trying to bully Iran as well - but that little kid got stronger, savvier, and scrappier with age and experience. I don't think that will ever happen to Cuba, but I would be SO happy if it did.
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Cuba has become all of those things but doesn't have enough resources to be powerful as well, and their only strategic importance is in a conflict between US and Russia — and involvement in an open conflict between us would very likely result in the effective destruction of their nation.
As such inviting in China is relatively logical, in that it might disrupt other conflicts...
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As such inviting in China is relatively logical, in that it might disrupt other conflicts...
Good point. And with a less psychotically unhinged US administration, China potentially gaining a foothold so close to America's doorstep might inspire caution and diplomacy, instead of the torches and wrecking balls I expect to see.
Then again, given a sane administration we likely wouldn't be having this discussion at all.
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There are a number of extraordinarily wealthy families who lost a lot of money during the Cuban revolution. Cuba still has 5 generations more before such losses are forgotten.
Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:5, Interesting)
China is taking the long-term view here, building up goodwill in Cuba and in other countries where they see themselves potentially in the same situation.
Very similar to how China is providing cheap solar to countries across all over Africa. They're playing the long game by being a good neighbor. When Rome inevitably falls or turns its back on its allies, China is on speed dial to help assist.
One could argue that China is doing more to invest in the future of humanity by helping provide necessities to modernize for these countries when compared to the USofA. Yeah their human rights track record isn't great but then which countries are? Especially when you factor in whether or not they're helping the poorer countries in Africa, South America, and the Cuba? (The countries with a very bloody history of getting f'ed by profiteers from Western countries)
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China has switched the world to officially being with them on Taiwan. Only the UK and USA oppose their take over. They only need to keep the chips producing and nobody will push back; the UK will bend over quickly after the USA is weak. My bet is 2027 China thinks the USA is weak enough and is already planning the invasion.
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Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:5, Insightful)
There are no economic or security reasons to blockade Cuba, so that leaves *political*.
It used to be believed that bullies were low status individuals who are lashing out out of frustration. But research has shown that bullying is an effective strategy for achieving and maintaining social status. In other words it's a political winner. So the focus of research has shifted from the bully to the people around him who enable the bullying. The inner circle are the henchmen -- people without the charisma and daring to initiate the bullying, but join in when the bully gets things started. Around them are the audience, the people who wouldn't risk participating but enjoy the bullying vicariously. And around them are the much larger group of bystanders, who don't approve but are waiting for someone else to stop the bullying. Then off to the side are the defenders, who stand up to the bully.
Perhaps the least appreciated supporting factor in the phenomenon of the high-status bully is the silence of the bystanders, which is dependent upon the perception of widespread approval. Since you can't visibly see the the line between the approving audience and the apalled bystanders, the silence of the bytstanders is absolutely essential in sustaining the bullying.
Lot's of Americans are apalled at the idea of using military force to inflict suffering on the Cuban people. But that's only politically advantageous *because* of *them*. Tney are indistinguishable from the relatively small number of people who are thrilled when Trump announced he can do anything he wants wtih Cuba. The gap between actual approval and *perceived* approval is absolutely critical in establishign and maintaining any kind of authoritarianism. This is why would be authoritarian leaders are so focused on punishing and marginalizing any kind of expression of disapproval.
Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:4, Insightful)
More to the point, American businessmen were to imposing involuntary servitude on Cuba, the U.S. couldn't give rat's ass until Castro arrived. And la Presidenta doesn't give a rat's ass about Cuba either, he only wants to claim a "win" and set up yet one more trail of McNuggets back to his pocket.
Maybe la Presidenta can give Rubio his balls back from the jar he keeps on his desk and let him run Cuba into the ground instead of running the State Department into the ground. Hey Ruby, make sure your get your own balls and not, say, Lindsay Graham's. Lindsay's have a tiny little logo stamped on them: Made in Mar-a-Lago.
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Thanks for the laugh. I would only add that Lindsay's "balls" might in fact be ovaries.There's a good reason that one of the ladies on the IHIP YouTube channel refers to him as "Lady Graham".
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Rubio is whispering into Dementia Don's ear and would love to invade Cuba. He's probably upset Israel is having their way with Trump while he has to suck ass everyday and can't even get his benefactor's woman a dictatorship in Venezuela; although, he did get part of his wishes on Venezuela... but that wasn't a personal wish of his. Cuba is.
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That is an interesting take. Of course what actually happened is that the USA tried (and are still trying) to impose an involuntary servitude on Cuba, and Cuba is doing what it can to survive. Voluntary is better than involuntary. Regardless, thank the USA for that situation.
Instead of helping countries in need, Trump is either ignoring them or using their plight as leverage. Either avenue makes us "the bad guy". He either doesn't understand or doesn't care about how "soft power" works, like with USAID, and helps the U.S. in the long run. China gets this and is stepping in to fill the void Trump is creating, though probably with more strings but they're there. With Trump, he's got a stick and carrot, but the carrot is also a stick.
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The USA doesn't want China (or Russia) to have a launch platform for missiles or other weapons 90 miles off the Florida coast.
Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:2)
Lol he thinks leftists do regime changes
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Funny how western countries often "help" poor countries with loans over which (1) usury must be paid, (2) it must be paid back as well as (3) some critical function of society has to be built. Why is there never a question on that on /. ?
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Funny how western countries often "help" poor countries with loans over which (1) usury must be paid, (2) it must be paid back as well as (3) some critical function of society has to be built.
I think China is doing the same thing. The difference is that they play a long game of political chess, whereas western nations seeking power over other countries have less patience and play political speed-checkers.
Re:"helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:5, Interesting)
There's an old saying in diplomacy:
Russia and Britain play chess. (Open board, an early mistake can lose the late game, and it's all about the king.)
China plays Go. (Open board, and there is no king, only area.)
America plays poker. (All about bluffing, cards kept close, every round is a new game, and it doesn't matter how often you lose, but how big you win.)
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It sums up each nations history
Russia and Britain play chess. (Open board, an early mistake can lose the late game, and it's all about the king.)
Can't speak for Russian history (yet), but Game of Thrones cribs most of its violent politics from British history.
China plays Go. (Open board, and there is no king, only area.)
For China: it is imperative that each dynasty is "linked in an unbroken lineage of moral and political authority back to ancient times." It doesn't matter what color the Go stone is, they're all "Chinese".
America plays poker. (All about bluffing, cards kept close, every round is a new game, and it doesn't matter how often you lose, but how big you win.)
Poker resembles how war *actually* works.
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Game of Thrones cribs most of its violent politics from British history.
You are missing the point. It's not about the violence.
In chess, you win the game by capturing the king.
All the other pieces are dispensable, it doesn't matter how many you lose. Pawns can be made rooks and knights and bishops and queens, but when the king is captured, it's game over. Everything hinges on protecting the king.
It's a single point of failure. The goal is to exploit it.
It doesn't matter what color the Go stone is, they're all "Chinese".
Eventually.
Because while the Mongols were busy capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were capturing Ulan Bator.
And the Manchu dyna
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Belt & Road loans are actually worse than your typical IMF deals.
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https://economy.ac/news/2025/1... [economy.ac]
https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan... [dw.com]
It just means a). China often misrepresented how bad these deals would be prior to duping client states into signing them and b). the deals often don't provide as much benefit as expected, making it even harder to make debt payments.
Meanwhile IMF loans can be defaulted on repeatedly. They're a bit of a joke.
Re:"helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:4, Informative)
Re:"helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:5, Insightful)
Buying solar panels that will work for 30+ years and don't need any fuel or manufacturer supported maintenance is hardly entering into servitude.
Pakistan has also been somewhat insulated from the Israel/Trump war with Iran, because they deployed a lot of solar that displaced LNG.
It's going to happen more and more because solar and storage are so incredibly cheap, and it just happens that China is the country that made the most of this opportunity by developing massive solar manufacturing capability.
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Pakistan is a client of China, partly thanks to both countries' hostility towards India, and also thanks due to more Americans being aware of Islamabad's duplicitous behavior in supporting both sides. Even in the current war, Pakistan was pro-IRGC until the latter started lobbing missiles at their muslim neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, with two of which Pakistan has a security agreement
The whole situation in Balochistan is about Islamabad telling Beijing that they can do anythin
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The more important point I was hoping would come over is that we should be massively investing in renewables and electrification, and away from oil as a fuel.
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Buying solar panels that will work for 30+ years and don't need any fuel or manufacturer supported maintenance is hardly entering into servitude.
It is when you can't make the mortgage payments on those panels (and other infrastructure). Unpaid debts are not forgotten, they are compounded. There is damn sure a "foreclosure clause" in the agreement.
This is China using soft power. Like the USA used to do.
"Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift..."
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well, seems better than the servitude to USA, that clearly do not care about the people living there, they just want to control it
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Really? Why? Seen how well China has treated some of their partners elsewhere?
https://www.atlanticcouncil.or... [atlanticcouncil.org]
Chinese nationals are becoming widely hated in B&R partner countries for all manner of foul behavior.
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Never said that they were actually better!! but between someone that you know that have a long history of other country abuse and control and a new one with still few history incidents, people actually prefer to bet on the unknown
a recent pool in europe show that people trust more in the Chinese government than in the USA government, a huge drop since Trump is president. Everyone knows that we can't really trust China, but Trump is actually much worse, so the China unknown but more stable position sounds be
Why not both (Score:2)
China can gain a geo-political advantage on the USA.
Successful countries have multiple goals that synergize. Do one thing and accomplish 2 or 3, that sounds like winning to me.
Cuba is over a barrel. China is willing to deal with them, they have been extending loans to many countries in the world that can't get a better deal from the West. All these countries are going to have Chinese tech, Chinese infrastructure, and owe China money. It's imperialism for the 21st century and it's is very similar to how the US did things in the 19th and 20th century.
I can't f
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That's nothing new. Cuba was already on the hook, as was Venezuela. Cuba was practically begging for help at the last BRICS summit.
Re:"helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:4, Insightful)
Nobody complained when the USA was buying Cuba. Losing that servitude has resulted in the USA having the longest tantrum in the history of the world,
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They are being made AN EXAMPLE. Can't have all the puppets in the Americas doing their own thing which doesn't benefit American lobbyists!
Look at how Wikileaks was under decades of attack; they had to destroy the figurehead especially. Small target-- notice how the media which repeated it, distanced themselves. Had they gotten the leaks, they'd not report anything (except The Guardian would have.) If you destroy sources, you don't have to go after big media orgs who will create backlash.
Re: "helping" yeah so good of them to "help" (Score:4, Informative)
> What does Cuba have to offer China as payment for these solar panels?
Tourism: Despite recent declines due to international pressure and decreased visitors, tourism has long been the primary revenue generator.
Professional Services Exports: The government generates significant income by sending doctors and other professionals abroad.
Key Exports: In 2024, exports were led by tobacco ($418M), zinc ore ($107M), and nickel ($88.6M).
Key Industries: Petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology are also important industries for the economy.
- https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
And GDP is over 100 billion.
- https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
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> How many Chinese people pick Cuba as a tourist destination?
Surprisingly a lot according to Google.
Why do you ask?
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Maybe China could provide emergency equipment and infrastructure in return for future payment. They could call it a "lend-lease" program or something.
Or I suppose they could just let them pay on credit for reconstruction. Call it the "Marshall Plan" maybe?
Yeah, they should definitely look into that. Maybe lease some land for military bases. Hopefully they don't get pressured into an eternal lease though. I think they have some unfortunate hist
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Night time is a thing in Cuba as well
Luckily, batteries will also be "a thing in Cuba as well", just as soon as Chinese solar systems are installed there.
Re:All good but... (Score:4, Insightful)
Night time is a thing in Cuba as well
Just because it's not a 100% solution doesn't make it a 0% solution. In the choice between intermittent power and blackout, I expect most people (including you!) would take what you can get. Batteries are a thing, too, that China makes in spades.
One could just as well say "Powering your grid from oil imports is all good but, embargoes are a thing in Cuba as well."
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Clearly, the US will start imposing daylight sanctions on Cuba.
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And will use the surplus light to switch to permanent daylight savings time again.
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Yes, if only methods of storing electrical energy existed...
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The good socialists down there should have been doing this all along. It's warm in Cuba and you don't get the 15 hour December nights we have to deal with up north. It wouldn't take that big of a battery to keep the refrigerator running over night. A solar thermal collector will supply the hot water.
The biggest issue is anchoring the panels well enough to stay put in a hurricane.
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What a moronic thing to say. Perhaps the fact many of us ignore such statements is because we don't want to deal with morons. I'm for one getting sick of all the stupid.
Cuba, being closer to the equator, doesn't have much of a shift in daylight over the seasons; they don't need as much time in the dark. They also don't freeze and cool at night; so demand drops massively.
You have not heard about batteries? Or economies of scale? Or hydro power or tidal power or wind power (aka "bird killing windmills") or t
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Night time is a thing in Cuba as well
Solar is the preferred power generating option for remote stations even in places inside the arctic circle where night-time is measured in weeks not just a couple of hours.
You can unplug your phone from the wall and still use it. We figured out how to store energy 226 years ago already.
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is that worse than glazing Mango Mussolini? why?
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China is no longer communist; arguably, it never was but it certainly is not today. "Brutal" is subjective and per-cap the USA jails a lot of people; and the USA is a terrorist state compared to most nations.
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China was reasonably communist under Mao. Just about the first thing his successor did was make it a lot less communist.
Not "a lot," number 5 in the world, surpassed only by Turkmenistan, Rwanda, Cuba and El Salvador. China is back in 132 place with about a fifth of the US imprisonment rate and only slightly higher than countries like Spain, France and Italy.
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I'd like to buy some Cuban sugar cane or coffee but the US government won't allow it.
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I think that you are trying to imply that Cuba could sell a lot more coffee and cane if they could sell to the U.S. I disagree. Cuba would likely see some small increase do to tourist sales, but not enough increase to affect their economy in any meaningful way.
As for your personal desire for Cuban products, if you really want them, you can get these things through Canada or other Caribbean islands(Bahamas, Cayman, Jamaica, DR). Probably Mexico as well, though I don't know this.
From personal experience cafe
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Money that Cuba doesn't have.
At the moment, yes. But they have plenty of goods to sell. Just no access to the Western World's banking system (controlled by the USA). That's slowly changing as more countries are shaking off the USD's status as the go-to reserve currency. Yuan will do fine. Roubles are OK too.
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At the moment, yes. But they have plenty of goods to sell. Just no access to the Western World's banking system (controlled by the USA).
No, the facts don't support your position at all. You say at the moment, but it's been over 60 years. And they have no problem operating within the global banking system, when they have the money. But, as I said previously, they are lacking in funds. No company, and not many nations, are willing to give Cuba goods fro nothing.
Cuba has nothing of significance to offer the world anymore. their previous riches were derived from sugar cane. But those markets have shifted and the world no longer depends on the C
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China will take their payment in other ways. Plus they have an excess of production capacity for solar panels so they need a place to send their product to keep their industry running.
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Cuba is currently under US blockade:
https://truthsocial.com/@realD... [truthsocial.com]
That's not just strongman posturing either. The US has been seizing ships and threatening countries Cuba might get oil from.
Cuba is poor. They're poor because they've been embargoed for half a century by their closest neighbour. They're also currently blockaded by that neighbour.
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In case you weren't paying attention, Captain Obvious, Cuba has been under blockade for 66+ years. The impact of recent actions of the U.S. on Cuba changes nothing that I've already said.
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Cuba has not been under blockade. They've been subject to US sanctions. From your own post:
Then you list countries like Canada and the UK, so I guess the "US sphere of influence" is the US itself. The current situation IS a blockade. The US is actively stopping ships going to and from Cuba to countries that are not the US, and applying political pressure to countries they're not quite ready to physically interdict.
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I see you like to argue semantics.
Ask anyone in Cuba what they call the embargo. They have always called it el bloqueo(the blockade). But that is just an nonsense argument. The clear intent of my comment was that el bloqueo has not been their problem for the last several decades, despite the claims of many. Their problem is that they have no money.
The U.S. is currently denying fuel ships, only. All other shipping continues unaffected. Which is how they are able to get solar panels from China.
But, you keep a
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Now now, be fair. The US sometimes thinks aheads and posts marines at the ballot boxes to make sure things turn out correctly the first time.
Or, as in the case of Cuba, supports a coup before the elections even have a chance to happen.
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There's some weirdnesses in the reporting, but I think the point is that going from essentially zero to 10% in a single year is quite fast. It's not that fast, though - I think Pakistan went faster, for example
Ember are pretty sharp, so I think it's likely to be just crappy reporting of what they've actually found
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It's going to be a good path for a lot of countries to diminish the power of the petrodollar and oil and gas in general.
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We are starting to see a partial disintermediation of the global financial system, as millions of homes and small businesses put up panels and batteries. That’s because to do that, they don’t need sovereign borrowing, dollar reserves and frequently they don’t even need formal finance. To the extent that there remains dependence following the shift to renewables, it’s front-loaded and decays over time, because assets last decades, and raw materials are widespread.
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One shouldn't ignore the influence Chinese EVs will have on the entire equation considering transportation is driven by oil, especially commercial transportation.