The Cabildo of Tenerife is investing 349,794 euros into the inaugural project of the Decarbonisation Plan for the public entity Balsas de Tenerife (Balten). This project is taking place at the San Antonio pond in La Matanza de Acentejo. The island’s vice president, Lope Afonso (PP), alongside the Minister of the Primary Sector, Valentín González (CC), visited the site yesterday. This pioneering initiative in the Canary Islands is anticipated to conclude in the first quarter of 2025.
In this context, Afonso stated, “We are witnessing a significant milestone in the transition towards decarbonising the Cabildo’s facilities, particularly Balten, as we introduce the floating photovoltaic plan. This endeavour will not only enhance self-consumption in our facilities but also lead to cost savings on energy and reduced pollution.” He further noted, “Importantly, from what we observe today, we can conclude that we are preventing the release of 124 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is akin to planting approximately 6,200 trees.”
This project is the most distinctive within the Balten Decarbonisation Plan, as it marks the first installation of floating photovoltaic panels in the Canary Islands. It serves as a pilot installation that will facilitate the exploration of various technologies. The photovoltaic panels situated on the water have an angle of inclination of 15 degrees and are bifacial, allowing them to harness energy directly from sunlight as well as from the light reflected off the water’s surface. Additionally, there will be a plant installed with a lesser angle of inclination, supported by floats, which is monofacial (producing energy solely from direct sunlight), equipped with indicators to ascertain which type of installation proves to be more efficient.
Meanwhile, Valentín González affirmed that “this reflects a commitment from the Tenerife Cabildo, particularly from my department, towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability.” He added that this also demonstrates a commitment to the energy-water nexus, especially when it comes to providing our farmers with quality liquid at an accessible and fair price.”
