Domínguez and Zapata highlight the collaborative effort with the ministry following inaction from the ‘Las Flores Pact’
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 26 June (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of the Canary Islands has expressed contentment this Wednesday with the tender initiated by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge to bolster the electrical capacity in non-peninsular territories in the medium and long term, with a total of 971 MW allocated to the archipelago. However, caution has been raised regarding the ongoing risk of energy shortages as the new facilities will not be operational before 2028.
During a joint address by the vice president of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez, and the Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Hernández, the equipment is scheduled to be allocated between February and April 2025 – with a six-month period for offer submissions.
Domínguez emphasised that the tender is “excellent news” for the islands as there has been a documented “vulnerability” in the Canary Islands energy system since 2021, particularly in Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gran Canaria according to a Red Eléctrica report.
He criticised the former Canarian Government for disregarding the report and solely maintaining communication with the ministry without engaging in negotiations, leading the new Government to initiate an emergency tender for those three islands, which have already been awarded.
He praised Councillor Hernández Zapata’s “effort, dedication, and concern” given the seven instances of energy shortages in the Canary Islands in the past 15 years, with the most recent being last summer in La Gomera.
“We are still at risk of experiencing such shortages, which is of great concern to us,” he acknowledged, but also highlighted that this tender will enable a shift from outdated energy generation methods.
Domínguez remarked, “The Canary Islands do not deserve this enduring risk that we have faced for so long, perhaps due to the whims of certain individuals, leaving us in a precarious position for the years that have passed and those that lie ahead.”
The councillor noted that the tender progressed through “collaborative efforts, setting aside political differences” and promoting the integration of renewable energies, with the tender itself valued at over 300 million Euros.
“Our Focus is on Realism”
Zapata views the 2028 timeline for the new facilities to be operational as “risky” and has expressed willingness to extend it to the end of 2029 or the start of 2030, recognising the challenges involved in initiating the project. “Our focus is on realism,” she clarified.
The councillor also welcomed the integration of some initial claims from the Regional Executive, which emphasised a greater emphasis on projects facilitating the decarbonisation process of the Canary Islands.
“Projects incorporating renewable energy sources will be prioritised, where facilities will have restricted CO2 emissions and location criteria favouring smaller, more adaptable units will be considered,” she highlighted.
The breakdown by islands allocates 330 MW to Gran Canaria, 370 MW to Tenerife, 215 MW to Lanzarote-Fuerteventura, 44 MW to La Palma, 5.5 MW to La Gomera, and 6.5 MW to El Hierro.
In line with Royal Decree 738/2015, the tender accounts for the solid thermal power needs outlined in Red Eléctrica’s coverage studies for the next five years, but extends beyond to provide remuneration to facilities for up to 25 years, reinforcing long-term supply.
