The Minister for Ecological Transition, Mariano Hernández Zapata, confirms that the Ministry has responded quickly to the shortcomings of the first tender. Gran Canaria concentrates most of the megawatts, facing a generation deficit exceeding 130 MW.
The Government of the Canary Islands has initiated a second tender for the installation of new electricity generation units, with a total capacity of 700 megawatts. This decision comes after the first tender, called in November 2025, proved insufficient to meet the needs of the archipelago, especially in Gran Canaria.
This has been confirmed by the Minister for Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Hernández Zapata, who acknowledged that the speed of the Ministry's response was a pleasant surprise. "We have insisted tirelessly and we were surprised by the speed. We appreciate it, because they understood the importance it has for us," he stated in an interview.
Gran Canaria, the most in need island
The new tender allocates the majority of the megawatts to Gran Canaria, where the situation is particularly critical. The generation plant at Barranco de Tirajana has units that must be decommissioned within the deadlines set in the first tender, exacerbating the existing deficit.
According to the Minister, Gran Canaria has a generation deficit exceeding 130 megawatts, while demand continues to grow each year. "There is a quite compromised situation," Hernández Zapata admitted, having held meetings with the president of the island council to seek solutions.
In the first tender, companies like Disa and Ayagaures submitted bids to enter Gran Canaria from scratch, but were excluded due to scoring. The Minister explained that the technical criteria have been modified to prevent this from happening again: "We cannot bet on the cheapest option if it does not solve the problems."
Renewable acceleration zones pending
The archipelago is also progressing in the declaration of renewable acceleration zones (ZAR). Those for Lanzarote, La Gomera and El Hierro have already been signed, and La Palma is expected to be the fourth to be approved imminently. "We just had a significant meeting with La Palma and I expect imminent approval," the Minister noted.
As for the capital islands, Gran Canaria is "on the verge of being signed off," while with Tenerife "we have meetings day in and day out." The declaration of these zones is key to speeding up the installation of wind farms and solar plants, reducing administrative timelines.
A necessary boost for the energy transition
The second tender aims to correct the mistakes of the first and accelerate the replacement of the old generation fleet, which is outdated in many islands. The Minister reminded that the goal is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and move towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy model.
For the Canary reader, the news has a direct impact: greater penetration of renewables should translate into a more stable electricity bill in the long term and reduced vulnerability to supply cuts. The replacement of old plants will also improve air quality in nearby areas.
The Minister sent a message to the island councils: "We need to ask in Fuerteventura if they are committed to renewables," referring to the resistance faced in some islands regarding deployment. Institutional collaboration will be key to ensuring that deadlines are met and the 700 megawatts arrive on time.
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