The Spanish Government has announced the activation of the second competitive tender to provide 700 megawatts (MW) of firm electrical power to the Canary Islands. This initiative, communicated by the Secretary of State for Energy, Joan Groizard, aims to definitively guarantee the security of supply on the islands, with a primary focus on Gran Canaria.
One of the notable innovations is the incorporation of energy storage into the islands' energy regulation. This mechanism will allow storage facilities to compete in the market and bid against fossil fuel generation, thereby replacing polluting and costly installations with storage solutions. The goal is to reduce external dependency, lower costs, and improve the integration of renewable energies into the system.
This significant change in the operation of island systems is being formalized through a royal decree that has been opened for public consultation. Additionally, the recent Royal Decree-Law, pending validation, which includes the elimination of the electricity generation tax, was mentioned. This measure will reduce electricity bills for consumers and represents a boost for the renewable energy sector.
Regarding the offshore wind auction, the regional Minister of Ecological Transition, Mariano Hernández Zapata, reiterated Gran Canaria's interest in being a pioneer in its development. Groizard indicated that this tender could be released before the end of the year, enjoying broad consensus and the approval of the Maritime Spatial Planning Plans (POEM).
Hernández Zapata requested an extension of the deadline for executing Next Generation funds until November from Groizard's department, in order to meet renewable installation milestones. The autonomous community has processed nearly 100 MW and aims to add another 170 MW. The minister stated that the Ministry will work with the Ministry of Finance to facilitate this extension.
