The Chira-Soria project of Red Eléctrica de España (REE), which is being developed between San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán, is being visited this Friday by the president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, who points out that it represents one of the largest investments in energy infrastructure in recent decades in the Canary Islands. This ambitious initiative, an invention of the PP with José Jiménez when he was the Councillor for Water in Gran Canaria, has as its main objective the storage of renewable energy, mainly that generated by wind and solar sources, to guarantee a stable and sustainable electricity supply on the island of Gran Canaria.
Chira-Soria is a reversible hydroelectric power plant. This means that it can operate both as a conventional hydroelectric power plant, generating electricity from the force of water falling from an upper reservoir to a lower one, and as a pump that raises water from the lower reservoir to the upper one during periods of excess renewable energy. In this way, energy is stored in the form of stored water, to be used when needed.
The ability to store energy ensures a stable electricity supply, even in times of low renewable energy production. Despite its benefits, the Chira-Soria project has generated some controversy due to its environmental impact. Some environmental groups have expressed concern about the possible alterations to the area's ecosystem and the water consumption that the plant will require. However, the project's promoters assure that all necessary measures have been taken to minimize the environmental impact and that the benefits far outweigh the possible damage.
The Chira-Soria project represents a milestone in the energy transition of the Canary Islands and an example to follow for other regions seeking to increase their dependence on renewable energy. As its operation becomes more established, it is expected to contribute to consolidating Gran Canaria as an energy-sustainable island and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.
