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Growing Use of Renewable Energy in Ciego de Avila |
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Written by Lubia Ulloa Trujillo (acn)|
Thursday, 24 May 2012 09:07
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 The use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biomass, is increased in Ciego de Ávila in terms of economic development and environmental care.
Ramón Acosta Álvarez, a specialist of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in the province of Ciego de Ávila, said that currently there are 809 windmills in operation for pumping water, mainly for livestock and the considerable savings fuel.
"This result reflects the recovery of spare parts, the organization of maintenance crews and the availability of new machinery," said Acosta Álvarez.
"The use of biogas also shows an increase in the production, by peasants engaged in pork production, of small plants, with which a proper treatment is given to the highly polluting residuals of the pigsties" he said.
"Although much remains to be done in this area, 26 biodigesters are already in operation and 30 other are under construction or planned," added the specialist.
"Solar power is used by water heaters of the hotel chain of the Ministry of Tourism, in education and health centers, as well as through panels that turn it into photovoltaic for lighting communities where there is no electricity," he said.
For many years Cuba is developing strategies to widespread the use of renewable energy and make greater use of sunshine, wind and biogas, as clean energy options to reduce fuel consumption and its impact on the environment.
Wind prospecting studies conducted north of Ciego de Ávila revealed the existence of two areas with the potential to be exploited in order to generate electricity.
Data collected during two years in 50- meter-high anemometer towers showed positive values in places such as El Cuatro, Chambas, and Turiguanó.
In El Cuatro the wind speed exceeds six meters per second per year, which measurement is considered as very good to set up windmills capable of generating two megawatts in the same period.
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