A delegation from the public-private consortium Geothermal Energy of the Canaries (EGC) visited the facilities of the Pico Vermelho Geothermal Power Plant on the island of San Miguel, Azores, today to assess the feasibility of adapting this model of subterranean heat exploitation to the energy reality of Tenerife and the rest of Canaries.
The Portuguese archipelago, which shares geological similarities with the Canaries, has established geothermal energy as a key resource, currently generating 21% of its total electricity and aiming to increase this to 53% by 2027. The Canary delegation, comprising representatives from the Tenerife Cabildo, the Government of the Canaries, and the company DISA, along with partners such as Reykjavik Geothermal and ITER, had the opportunity to observe the operations of the plant, owned by EDA Renováveis, which provides up to 10 megawatts of power.
Benefits and Similarities
The President of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, emphasised that geothermal energy represents “the future of Tenerife to eliminate carbonisation” and an opportunity to “ensure a sustainable and high-quality energy network” due to its capability to generate electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. She also highlighted the success of the Azores model in integrating with the natural environment, a crucial aspect for implementation in Canaries.
Meanwhile, Santiago Rull, Director of DISA Energía, noted that the Azores, as an outermost region, has been a leader in using this renewable resource for over 45 years. He stressed that, given the nature of the Canary archipelago, geothermal energy “must be part of our energy mix” to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
Economic and Social Impact
Spokespeople from the delegation also highlighted the economic advantages of geothermal energy. The General Director of Industry, Ana Zurita, pointed out that this “almost infinite” resource could lower electricity production costs, potentially leading to a 30% reduction in electricity bills for residents. Furthermore, it was emphasised that investment in geothermal energy, which is financed with €43.2 million from European Next Generation funds, could stimulate entrepreneurship, attract investment, and invigorate the local economy.
The Deputy Counsellor for Ecological Transition, Julieta Schallenberg, stated that Canaries is deeply exploring this technology to inform citizens of its benefits, using the success of the Azores as a reference.
The Azores model, based on independent development on each island for four decades due to the lack of electrical interconnection, was presented by technicians from EDA Renováveis. The company utilises well exploration at depths of 1 to 2.4 kilometres to harness high-temperature reservoirs (around 240º C), demonstrating that this technology is crucial for the decarbonisation target of Canaries, set at 90% by 2040.
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