Gran Canaria's energy system has taken a significant step towards strategic autonomy. The General Directorate of Environmental Quality confirmed to Maspalomas24H on Monday that it has issued a favorable report for the Punta Tenefé Wind Farm hybridization project, an initiative that will transform this 5,4 MW facility into an infrastructure capable of managing its own production thanks to a state-of-the-art battery system.
This Punta Tenefé project stands as a model of responsible hybridization: it leverages European funds to modernize older facilities, improves the quality of the island's electricity supply, and guarantees, by contract, the complete restoration of the natural landscape once its operational cycle is complete. This advancement places San Bartolomé de Tirajana at the forefront of energy storage technology in the archipelago, fulfilling the objectives of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC).
The operation, led by Marina South Beach, SLU, a Satocan subsidiary, provides a direct response to the challenges of intermittency in renewable energy systems in isolated areas. By integrating storage into an already operational wind farm, the southeast of the island will not only generate clean energy but will also be able to feed it back into the grid reliably, reducing dependence on thermal power plants during periods of low wind speed.
The financial backing behind this transformation is the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. The project has secured a grant of €1,5 million from NextGenerationEU funds, awarded through the first call for proposals for renewable energy installations in the Canary Islands by the IDAE (Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving).
This investment is specifically earmarked for project IT13, which involves adding energy storage to existing projects. The funding covers the acquisition and installation of cutting-edge technology: two 20-foot containers that will house 13 racks of high-density electrochemical batteries (CATL model), capable of storing up to 4,836 MWh. This "lithium brain" will allow for much more flexible management of the park's energy surpluses.
The design, by engineer Alejandro Jiménez Bordón, stands out for its spatial efficiency. The system will be located on an existing plot of land within the wind farm itself, avoiding the need to open new roads. The connection will be made via an underground line of just 54 meters, a solution that has been key to obtaining environmental approval by minimizing the visual impact and soil disturbance.
Despite being located in an industrialized area, the project has passed a rigorous biodiversity assessment. The Island Council's Historical Heritage Service and environmental technicians have conditioned the 22-week construction period on a strict protection protocol for local birdlife, such as the stone-curlew and the marsh lapwing, ensuring that technological advancement does not compromise the ecosystem of southeastern Gran Canaria. The environmental permit not only looks to the present but also establishes a commitment to soil restoration. With an estimated lifespan of 25 years, the project includes a mandatory closure plan. At the end of this period, the developer must remove all infrastructure—containers, inverters, and foundations—and manage the recycling of the batteries in accordance with circular economy regulations.
