A resolution published in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, marks a fundamental milestone for the energy future of Gran Canaria, although at the expense of the land in the County of Vega Grande. The Directorate General of Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands has granted administrative authorization and declaration of public utility to the new "66 kV Input/Output Line at the Aldea Blanca Substation." This step, promoted by Red Eléctrica de España (REE), is vital to consolidating the transmission infrastructure in the south of the island.
File AT24/007, which began with the REE application on May 3, 2024, seeks the reconfiguration of the Barranco de Tirajana-Escobar 1 (66 kV) underground line. This will be divided into two independent sections, allowing for a crucial direct input and output connection at the Aldea Blanca Substation. The result will be two new underground lines: "Escobar - Aldea Blanca 1 (66 kV)" and "Barranco de Tirajana - Aldea Blanca 2 (66 kV)".
This improvement is no small feat. It is an initiative contemplated in the "Electric Power Transmission Network Development Plan 2021-2026," a binding document that underscores the strategic nature of the project for the security and reliability of the electricity supply in the Canary Islands. The integration of existing cable sections with new facilities, including state-of-the-art cables, will ensure the necessary operational capacity and reliability in an area key to the island's development.
The process for obtaining this authorization, as is typical for infrastructure projects of this magnitude, included a public comment period. During this period, a single joint objection was submitted by Pedro Fernando del Castillo y Bravo de Laguna, Grupo Inmobiliario Tinojai, and the heirs of Mr. Alejandro del Castillo Bravo de Laguna. Their objections centered around the alleged lack of individualized notification, errors in the registered ownership of a property, the project's impact on land with potential for renewable energy, the lack of justification of the project's public utility, and potential agricultural and environmental impacts. A possible incompatibility with the Gran Canaria Island Development Plan was even mentioned.
Red Eléctrica, for its part, responded by arguing that the project was covered by national planning and current legislation, also offering the possibility of a mutual acquisition agreement with the owners. Despite the complainants' persistent arguments, the procedure continued. The resolution highlights that the Gran Canaria Island Council, the Gran Canaria Island Water Council, and the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines of the Ministry for Ecological Transition issued favorable reports. Although some administrations, such as the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, did not respond within the deadline, their silence did not impede the progress of the case.
This declaration of public utility has important legal implications: it entails the need to occupy the assets or acquire the affected rights, including urgent occupation for the purposes of compulsory expropriation and the imposition of rights of way. Red Eléctrica now has a maximum of 24 months to submit its application to commission these facilities. The approval of this high-voltage line is a clear indication of the commitment to improving Gran Canaria's energy infrastructure, which is vital for its development and the future integration of clean energy.
