The Spanish government has finally resolved the financial uncertainty surrounding the energy stability of the Canary Islands' main economic hub. Through a resolution issued by the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines on February 3, 2026, the Ministry for Ecological Transition has allocated authorized investments totaling over €40,5 million for the modernization of generation assets in Gran Canaria, operated by Unión Eléctrica de Canarias Generación (Endesa).
The bulk of this capital injection is strategically concentrated in the Barranco de Tirajana complex, in the south of the island. This infrastructure, a key component for sustaining the tourism sector and industrial consumption, will receive a total of €40.525.610 in investments recognized under the additional remuneration scheme. This resolution thus guarantees the profitability and maintenance of combined cycle power plants and gas turbines, which are critical for preventing supply failures in an isolated and highly vulnerable electrical system.
The breakdown of the financial allocations highlights the more than €14,2 million earmarked for the Endesa GC-BA-03 project and the €13,6 million for the GC-BA-04 group, both corresponding to combined cycle technology in a 2x1 configuration at the Barranco de Tirajana substation. In addition, an investment of €12,5 million is allocated for a heavy-duty gas turbine at the same site, further solidifying southern Gran Canaria as the primary recipient of these modernization funds.
The resolution also includes smaller-scale projects at the Jinámar power plant, where two allocations of €2,7 million each have been authorized for the modernization of gas turbines. All of these investments have a regulatory lifespan of 10 years, providing Endesa with a horizon of financial stability to operate these assets. This administrative action concludes a competitive bidding process initiated in 2024, designed to offset the additional generation costs in the non-peninsular territories and ensure that the energy transition in the islands does not compromise the security of the system.
