The Ministry proposes to incorporate 95 new megawatts into the shared electrical system of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which will represent an energy growth of nearly 20% in both islands.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has proposed the incorporation of 95 new megawatts (MW) into the shared electrical system of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The measure aims to strengthen supply security and meet the growing demand driven by population increase, tourism, and economic activity on both islands.
Currently, the electrical system of Lanzarote has 270 MW, while that of Fuerteventura has 309 MW. With the new injection of renewable power, both islands will experience an energy increase of around 16%, according to calculations from the Government of the Canary Islands.
Three-year legislative balance
The Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, Mariano Hernández Zapata, presented on Thursday the balance of the first three years of the legislature. He highlighted that the Archipelago has moved from managing energy emergencies to accelerating ecological transition. “Between 2023 and 2025, self-consumption in the Canary Islands has increased by 80%,” he stated.
Hernández Zapata also emphasized the advances in sustainable mobility: “After these three years, there are more than 8,400 vehicles in the Canary Islands that have received aid to advance in decarbonization.” He added that tenders have been issued for the renewal of thermal power plants and emergency measures have been adopted that are already operational on some islands.
Demand for extension of funds
The minister recalled that the milestones set by the Ministry have been met, but he called for an extension of the execution period for European funds. “Just yesterday we reminded the Secretary of State: the execution of the funds needs to be extended until the end of 2026,” he assured. The extension would allow for the acceleration of renewable installations and storage in the Canary electrical system.
“We have reached the milestones established by the Ministry. We are talking about nearly 100 new megawatts of renewable energy installed in the Canary Islands. It would have been, and could be, much more if the Ministry addresses the demand we have been making for months,” insisted Hernández Zapata.
For the residents of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, this increase in renewable power represents a greater guarantee of supply and a reduction in dependence on fossil fuels, which in the medium term could translate into a more stable electricity bill. The measure also contributes to the decarbonization goals of the Archipelago, which aims to be a benchmark in clean energy.
The next step will be the administrative processing of the new projects, which must obtain environmental and grid connection permits. The first megawatts are expected to start operating within a period of 12 to 18 months, subject to the speed of the procedures.
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