en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of El Hierro have signed an agreement to designate Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones on the island, aiming for the orderly deployment of new clean ground-based power generation while ensuring harmony with environmental protection, landscape, territory, and agriculture. The agreement was signed by the Regional Minister for Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Zapata, and the President of the Cabildo of El Hierro, Alpidio Armas, in the plenary hall of the island council. The final proposal identifies a total of 740 hectares of land on El Hierro as suitable or conditionally suitable for renewable energy development, of which 561 hectares are considered suitable, representing approximately 2% of the island's total area.
The agreement is the result of joint work between the two governments, aimed at identifying the most appropriate areas for renewable energy development, balancing the energy transition with environmental, landscape, territorial, and agricultural values. El Hierro holds a leading position in the renewable energy sector, thanks to its model developed around the Gorona del Viento wind-pumped hydroelectric power station. Minister Mariano Zapata stated that this agreement represents a step towards a cleaner, more efficient, and self-sufficient energy system, and that designating these zones facilitates the orderly and territorially harmonious deployment of renewable energies.
El Hierro holds a unique position within the archipelago, as the role of the Gorona del Viento wind-pumped hydroelectric power station makes the island a benchmark for renewable energy integration and storage. Currently, the annual renewable energy coverage ranges between 44% and 50%, exceeding the regional average. Despite this high penetration rate, the government considers it necessary to further reduce dependence on conventional thermal power generation. The agreement contemplates the addition of new solar photovoltaic and wind power capacity to complement the existing wind-pumped hydro system. The designation of the Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones employed a technical methodology based on environmental, territorial, energy, and sectoral criteria, involving phases of exclusion, restriction, and institutional consensus. Excluded areas include protected natural spaces, areas included in the Natura 2000 network, lands conflicting with planning regulations, and spaces with agricultural, heritage, or biodiversity value. The ZARs will serve as a planning tool and territorial guide to identify the most suitable locations for renewable energy development, without ruling out the promotion of installations on rooftops and in already transformed spaces.
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