A true Asturian, at 70 years old, he is a leading figure in geothermal energy. Celestino García de la Noceda participated on Wednesday in the ‘New Energy Vectors’ conference, organized by the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Gran Canaria, with the collaboration of the Association for Energy Transition and the support of Canaluz. García de la Noceda highlights the great opportunities for geothermal energy in the islands.
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You have mentioned on various occasions that geothermal energy is the great unknown and that Canary Islands have many possibilities. I read it in 2015. How is the situation now in the Canary Islands?
We are in a very good moment because there has been a call for projects launched by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition through the Institute for Diversification and Savings of Energy (IDAE) with the Next Generation funds, but there have been many difficulties in getting them off the ground. Nevertheless, there are great expectations because it affects Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and La Palma. In Lanzarote, a project could not be launched, but work continues on the issue.
But what is happening that this energy source, after so many studies, has not been developed?
The issue with geothermal energy is that it involves mining-type research. It is necessary to investigate the subsoil and know its composition. This takes time on the one hand, although we already have many studies, and it requires investment. There is a significant investment needed for drilling. Geothermal energy is extracted through highly costly drillings. That’s why we need the boost provided by the Next Generation funds to help minimize this factor that hinders progress. But geothermal energy has a great advantage.
What are the advantages of geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and that is one of the serious problems faced by most renewable energies. We have a base load energy that is easily adjustable, meaning we can increase its power simply by opening a valve, and produce during those moments of peak demand.
But why aren’t there structures in place after so many years?
We have been working on the issue but it requires an entity to take on a project in terms of investment. And which companies can carry this out? Sometimes they are public entities or private entities, and there are few private entities willing to get involved in geothermal energy, or at least there were very few, because in recent times we have seen a shift in this trend and there are investors willing to invest. This has led us to divide our work in the Spanish Technological and Innovation Platform in Geothermal Energy into another branch, Geoenergy, which is an entity to bring together the productive sector, that is, it will focus on companies and, primarily, on policies and the market, to negotiate with the authorities all the requirements demanded by the sector to ensure appropriate tariffs. This is one of the difficulties that companies that want to enter the sector usually mention, the lack of a pricing policy, of aid, that guarantees that our investment will be profitable in the medium to long term.
Are these projects profitable?
They are completely profitable. In fact, geothermal energy is one of the most profitable renewable energies. Those investments are paid off in a very short time. We could be talking about less than 10 years in most cases.
Can geothermal energy be used in tourism?
There are deep and shallow geothermal sources. Shallow geothermal sources already have a wide development, and even in the Canary Islands, there are hotels that have air conditioning powered by geothermal energy, most of them on the coast, using groundwater in the different islands. This exists, but it is not widely known. For example, the Lanzarote Council has its building climate-controlled with geothermal energy. This type of geothermal energy is used for heating or cooling.
But deep geothermal energy remains stagnant.
Deep geothermal energy, which is initially intended for electricity generation as that is the primary interest, is feasible in several islands. We are considering large-scale production, like on other oceanic islands, in the Azores, or as it is in Hawaii. And we have possibilities for that because we are aware.
What are the geological and thermal conditions required for these deposits to exist?
It depends on the locations. In the island that likely requires deeper drilling, such as La Palma with a more rugged topography, deeper drilling of 3,000 to 4,000 meters would be needed to reach the target. We are talking about depths of 2,000 to 3,000 meters in Tenerife and similar depths of 2,000 to 2,500 to 3,000 meters in Gran Canaria. In Lanzarote, depths may be less, possibly not exceeding 2,000 meters. However, all this depends on the companies that have submitted their projects.
Do these drillings not cause any environmental damage?
They should not pose any difficulty. The drillings last a very limited time, only a few months. We are always talking about onshore drilling. Obviously, conservation measures must be respected, and in that sense, a significant part of the territory in the Canary Islands is protected by various conservation measures. However, we can perfectly drill and achieve success.
What is the total funding for these projects?
Currently, more than €100 million is at stake in this matter in the Canary Islands. These are European funds that will contribute to covering a percentage of the expenses for this research. Several projects have been submitted to the call. Private companies and public institutions are also collaborating, such as the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and La Palma as well. That is to say, of the four islands with the greatest potential, La Palma, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria, initially have projects underway. Another project is currently being managed in Lanzarote. The prospects are very favourable.
What would developing this geothermal potential mean for the Canary Islands?
In islands like La Palma or Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which are connected in terms of electricity, it could mean nearly 100% of their electricity demand could be met at present. In the case of Tenerife, it could represent a lower percentage, probably 10 to 15% initially. In the case of Gran Canaria, it may be somewhat lower, but if we can reduce the dependence on fossil fuels in the Canary Islands with energies from our subsoil that are our property, we cannot say no.
When do you think results could be seen?
The first results could be seen when the drillings are carried out, and basically, the process may face challenges, such as environmental permits, although the EU has urged Member States to streamline the approval of projects of this nature. But once the drillings are completed, results could be obtained in less than a year. I advocate for the Government of the Canary Islands to also support geothermal energy as it has done with other renewables and expedite the necessary procedures with rigour, of course.
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Canarias is an extremely favourable territory. Being volcanic, there are manifestations of geothermal activity, and we have very clear data. Are there other areas in the Peninsula? Yes, but Canarias is the main territory in Spain to develop deep geothermal energy for electricity production.
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