In the face of a prolonged US energy blockade of Cuba, solar panels from China have come to the rescue and provided a model of independence from fossil fuels that is resonating globally amid what is being called the worst energy crisis in history.

Within the 12 months through February, solar’s share of national power generation in Cuba increased from 6 per cent to more than 20 per cent, according to Microgrid Media, a California-based publication that tracks global renewable energy capacity.

“By rendering the oil blockade ineffective through alternative energy, Cuba neutralises what had been America’s primary weapon,” concluded the report, published on February 23.

By 2028, when all 92 Chinese-financed solar parks were expected to be running, Cuba would have a total 2,000 megawatts of power, about the same capacity as the country of more than 10 million people generates from fossil fuels, it said.

Since then, the Cuban model has gained global resonance during what the International Energy Agency (IEA) has described as the worst energy crisis in history, triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran that started on February 28.

The choking of oil and gas supplies from the Middle East is accelerating a worldwide race towards renewable power sources, electric vehicles and clean energy infrastructure. China leads in all of them.