HAVANA: The project is part of an effort by the island to generate 24 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with officials planning to attract more than $US600 million ($A809.06 million) in foreign investment.
Cuba plans to build six other wind farms using different sources of funds as it boosts clean energy generation.
Slightly more than four per cent of the island’s electricity is generated using renewable sources today, the official AIN news agency said.
The 13 new clean energy facilities will be added to a fleet of four existing wind farms, which have 12 MW of generating capacity and are located in different parts of the island.
Increased use of wind, solar and hydro-electric power plants will help Cuba reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and save about $US780 million annually, Lopez told the National Assembly.
Several other foreign investment projects in the solar photovoltaic sector were being evaluated, Energy and Mines Ministry officials said.
Cuban officials did not identify the country of origin of the investors in the wind farms, but Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Mario Giro last week said the island’s government was evaluating several energy projects, including the construction of three wind farms, with Italian companies.
Spain, for its part, has expressed interest in investing in Cuba’s renewable energy industry and several delegations, including one led by Industry, Energy and Tourism Minister Jose Manuel Soria, traveled to the island recently.
Cuba’s renewable energy industry currently operates 10,595 solar water heaters, 9,343 wind turbines, 827 biogas plants and 169 hydro-electric power plants, as well as solar panels and solar power plants.
