The infrastructure will feature a self-consumption system based on renewable energy and a wastewater treatment station
Tenerife’s Cabildo is continuing its comprehensive rehabilitation of the Refugio de Altavista, located at an altitude of 3,260 metres in the Teide National Park. As part of the improvement efforts, sustainability, energy efficiency, safety, and adaptation to the natural environment in high mountain areas are vital. A photovoltaic plant of 59.5 kWp is being installed, with an estimated annual production of nearly 100 MWh, equipped with high-efficiency solar modules and an advanced battery storage system. This solution will ensure a clean, stable energy supply adaptable to the extreme altitude, low temperatures, and high solar radiation.
The Cabildo President, Rosa Dávila, states, “The Refugio de Altavista was closed during the previous term, and we have been working intensively on its rehabilitation. These are challenging tasks because they are carried out at height, but we will have a model facility that is not only beneficial for visitors but also excels in sustainability and energy efficiency with the installation of photovoltaic panels and the treatment station.”
“The modernisation of the Refugio de Altavista reinforces Tenerife’s commitment to a model of responsible and sustainable tourism, tailored to the environmental challenges of the 21st century. Its symbolic and functional value makes it a national and international benchmark for the sustainable management of high mountain natural spaces,” Dávila asserts.
Blanca Pérez, Councillor for Natural Resources, Sustainability, and Emergency Services, emphasises that one of the central focuses of the project is “the energy transformation of the refuge through a self-consumption system based on renewable energy specifically designed for high mountain environments. This system will cover much of the energy demand of the refuge, such as lighting, climate control, appliances, telecommunications equipment, environmental control, and auxiliary services, drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.”
The Director of Natural Resources, Pedro Millán, explains that the Cabildo has requested funding under the FEDER Canarias 2021-2027 programme for the 2025 financial year. Specifically, they have submitted an application for a funding line dedicated to energy efficiency projects, renewable energy for self-consumption, and storage systems, within the ‘Green Transition’ call from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Canary Islands Government. “We have requested a total of €270,000 and are awaiting confirmation of the amount allocated to us. This funding will consolidate a high-efficiency, resilient energy infrastructure with a low ecological footprint, aligned with European decarbonisation and climate adaptation objectives,” Millán explains.
Renovation of the Refugio de Altavista
The renovation of the Refugio de Altavista represents an investment of approximately €1.8 million and is being carried out by the company Fachadas Dimurol S.L. The work is expected to be completed this year, allowing the public access to a facility that has been closed since 2020.
The improvement and rehabilitation works involve the reform and adaptation of the existing spaces within the same building volume, enhancing their functionality, as well as improvements in insulation and ventilation. Moreover, the module attached to the adjacent building situated on the existing concrete platform will be rehabilitated to house battery and fire pressure pump installations. Additionally, energy efficiency measures will be implemented, and PVC piping will be installed for the collection of wastewater generated at the refuge leading to the treatment station.
The treatment station, designed for 25 equivalent residents, will include screening equipment or grease separators, an Imhoff tank, a biological filter or sampling hatch, a facility with filtering bags for sludge dehydration, an absorption well, and masonry walls for protection and integration of the installations.
Safety, operability, and emergency response
Given its location and extreme weather conditions—temperatures below -8 ºC and winds exceeding 200 km/h—the Refugio de Altavista plays a critical role as a safety and emergency response point in high mountain areas. The facility will feature a nursing area and spaces designated for incident management, providing support to climbers, technical staff, and rescue services.
Refugio de Altavista
Constructed in the 19th century, the Refugio de Altavista has historically served as a vital support point for hikers ascending Spain’s highest peak. Its reopening will restore a key space for mountaineers, as well as for environmental conservation and sustainable tourism in Teide National Park.
