Photovoltaic energy gains ground in Sancti Spíritus agriculture
With the tobacco sector leading the way, photovoltaic energy is gaining ground in Sancti Spíritus’ agricultural system.
Jorge Félix Lazo, energy specialist at the Provincial Delegation of the Sector, explains: “Tobacco processing, raw tobacco processing, and the tobacco collection and processing plant are the leading companies in the province with this solar panel program. The tobacco processing plant has almost all its facilities covered with solar panels. The collection plant has just installed its electrical system, including the combines, the stripping machines, and the sorting facilities. The tobacco processing plant has 26 individual sorting plants, all powered by solar panels, with a capacity of almost all of them exceeding 20 kilowatts each.”
Other companies are gradually joining the solar panel installation program. “For example, the collection plant has just installed a 15-kilowatt system. The collection plant has also installed a 5-kilowatt system.” And there are other companies, most notably the Venegas Livestock Company, which is an example in the installation of renewable energy sources.
Other companies are gradually joining the solar panel installation program. “For example, Acopio just installed its 15-kilowatt system. Acopio has also installed a 5-kilowatt system. And there are other companies, notably Empresa Pecuaria Venegas, which is a prime example of installing this renewable energy source.
“That company has almost all of its facilities protected by photovoltaic systems. It has over 270 kilowatts installed. This includes all its dairy farms, warehouses, workshops, airstrips, bridal centers, and even its pumps, which are powered by solar panels.
“We can also highlight Managuaco. In Managuaco, a joint project with the University is underway involving the installation of biodigesters and solar-powered pumps.”
The installation of solar-powered pumps benefits several agricultural entities. “We currently have 126 solar-powered pumps throughout the province.” We are supplying water to more than 2,200 head of cattle and irrigating more than 60 hectares. We have a program for this year to continue increasing our fleet of pumps with solar panels. We plan to install 41 new pumps across different companies this year, of which 25 have already been installed in this first quarter.
