Photo: Emilio Rodríguez Pupo/Radio Mayari

Final assembly begins at the Serones 1 photovoltaic park in Mayari

With the necessary technical and human resources secured, the Serones 1 solar photovoltaic park located in the municipality of Mayari, Holguin province. It is entering a decisive week of construction, with the goal of supplying energy to the National Electric Power System (SEN).

The facility, part of a five-megawatt donated block, is set to be completed this week, according to local authorities. The project involves both civil engineering work and the specialized installation of electrical equipment.

Alexander Vázquez Obregón, the lead representative for the Electric Utility Company at the Serones 1 and 2 sites. He explained that the Military Construction Unit (UCM) has taken primary responsibility for the project. While entities such as Maquimotor are providing essential support for electrical work and equipment assembly.

This collaborative effort ensures that every installed mounting structure passes rigorous quality controls. Ranging from verifying cable routing to measuring voltage in combiner boxes. Thereby guaranteeing the integrity of the installation before it goes online.

Moreover to understand the scale of this project, it is helpful to clarify the naming of the two parks operating in the area. Vázquez Obregón noted that the park already in operation is Serones 2. Which was originally designated as “Sabala” in the project plans.

This facility was initially slated for the Sagua de Tanamo area but was relocated to its current site for technical reasons. Aimed at accelerating construction and taking advantage of the local terrain. Meanwhile, Serones 1 is currently in the final stages of construction.

The fundamental technological difference between the two parks lies in their energy management capabilities. While Serones 2 contributes five megawatts of direct power generation. Serones 1 incorporates a battery storage system with a capacity of 1 megawatt.

Also this added value is significant: it will help mitigate demand peaks and ensure a more stable supply to the electrical grid. Allowing solar energy to be utilized even when solar radiation levels drop. A major step toward reducing the island’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The construction of Serones 1 was not without its challenges. According to earlier reports on the project, the site contained a high concentration of clay, which led to water saturation and pooling during rainfall. To ensure the stability of the infrastructure, the construction team implemented engineering solutions. Including water conduits through the fence footings and the strategic construction of drainage dips (swales) to facilitate water runoff.

So these measures ensure that the structures supporting the solar panels remain protected, even under conditions of high humidity.

Furthermore the impact of this project extends beyond electricity generation. Mayari a territory that is already home to the Corua 5 (21.8 MW) and Serones 2 (5 MW) solar farms, is moving toward a transformation of its energy mix. Which also includes the installation of solar modules in isolated, hard-to-reach facilities and communities.

With the completion of Serones 1, the municipality not only strengthens its large-scale power generation capacity. But also takes a firm step toward local energy sovereignty, leveraging available natural resources to improve the quality of life for its nearly 36,000 electricity customers.

By: Daimy Peña Guillén

Radio Angulo
Latest posts by Radio Angulo (see all)