During his visit to Gran Canaria for the IV Canary Islands Renewable Energy Forum, held at the Elder Museum of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Donoso highlighted that administrative procedures are the main bottleneck for the development of photovoltaic energy in the islands. He pointed out the lack of alignment between departments and administrations, as well as the need for greater awareness of the urgency of the energy transition, especially for a territory vulnerable to climate change like the Canary Islands.
Donoso emphasized that sustainability is an increasingly valued factor by tourists from Northern Europe, positioning the Canary Islands as a benchmark for ecological and competitive tourism. Photovoltaic energy, according to the UNEF director, is no longer just an ideological choice but an economic one, allowing access to increasingly cheaper electricity.
Regarding the stability of the electrical system and recent blackouts, Donoso debunked rumors blaming renewable energies. He stated that if renewables had controlled the voltage at the time, the blackout would likely have been avoided. The delayed approval of the voltage management regulation by the CNMC and the development of storage, along with the future European approval of 'grid forming', promise a more resilient and secure electrical system.
“"It is a very significant loss for the Canary Islands, an absurd loss that should not happen."
The current situation, with the execution deadline for the Next Generation Funds ending on August 31st, puts an estimated investment of 242 million euros and hundreds of projects at risk. Donoso described this situation as "lamentable" and "absurd," attributing the initial time loss to the lack of a prepared and digitized administrative structure for managing self-consumption subsidies.
