SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 31 Oct (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Department of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Canary Islands Government has successfully completed the initial phase of its subsidy initiative aimed at advancing renewable energy and energy self-sufficiency within the public and water sectors. With a total budget of 33,789,851 euros, the programme has enabled the financing of 241 projects across the entire archipelago.
This initiative, divided into two areas of focus, has received a total of 319 applications, with 198 projects approved under Line 1, which concentrates on promoting renewable energy in the public sector, and 43 projects under Line 2, dedicated to energy self-sufficiency in the water sector. Collectively, these efforts will generate an additional 30.5 megawatts of power on the islands.
Regarding Line 1, the councillor of the autonomous department, Mariano H. Zapata, explained that funding has been allocated to a total of 20,679,976 euros, earmarked for implementing 20.15 MW of new energy generation capacity within public buildings and infrastructures in the Canary Islands, primarily through the installation of photovoltaic panels among other measures.
Similarly, for Line 2, which focuses on water management projects, a total of 13,109,875 euros has been allocated for the installation of 10.35 MW, “which significantly enhances energy self-sufficiency in this vital sector for the islands,” stated Zapata.
He further elaborated that among the benefitting entities are 39 local councils throughout the Canary Islands, 4 councils, and the two public universities on the islands, alongside various entities within the Institutional Public Sector. This, as he highlighted, “demonstrates our unwavering support for public administrations that desire to be part of this shift towards a greener model.”
Additionally, he affirmed that work will persist on new subsidy lines and reminded that related initiatives recently launched will be open until 2 December, pertaining to the utilisation of existing spaces (anthropised), electrification of the nautical sector, and the promotion of energy communities, all totalling 24 million euros.
EFFICIENT AND SWIFT MANAGEMENT
The councillor underscored the emergency plan implemented to manage the Next Generation funds, noting that “upon assuming the Ministry, we encountered a troubling scenario, with over 23,000 unprocessed files and merely 8% execution status.”
“We have engaged with various stakeholders, modified the subsidy criteria, made adjustments to personnel management, and are now meeting the targets that we have established,” he explained.
He also emphasised that through this new management approach, “we have transformed this challenging situation and are expediting the distribution of these funds, enabling the Canary Islands to move forward swiftly and steadily towards a renewable, self-sufficient, and decarbonised future.”
