The time change and the increase in tourist arrivals are putting pressure on the substations in Maspalomas, El Tablero, San Agustín, and Arguineguín, where Red Eléctrica is detecting saturations exceeding 30%. Technicians warn of a lack of capacity for further expansions.
The start of winter time and the recovery of Nordic tourism have increased energy demand in southern Gran Canaria to levels not seen since 2019. According to the latest records from the R1-299 system of Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the substations that supply the main tourist centers in the municipalities of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán are recording peak loads of over 37%, well above the historical average for autumn.
The largest increases are observed in Lomo Maspalomas 66 kV, with 31,5 MVA, and El Tablero 66 kV, which reaches 37,1 MVA, while in Mogán, the Arguineguín 66 kV substation records 37 MVA. The trend confirms the shift in the consumption curve toward the evening hours, coinciding with the earlier sunset and intense activity in hotels, shopping centers, and tourist resorts along the coast.
The energy surge coincides with a 90% hotel occupancy rate and a 12% increase in tourist arrivals compared to last year, driven by the German and Scandinavian markets. The combination of time change and high occupancy rates generates a 7% increase in demand between 18:00 PM and 21:00 PM, according to estimates by the system operator.
Energy planning experts warn that the southern facilities "do not have sufficient margin" to absorb new power connections without structural investments. In particular, the San Agustín GC 66 and Aldea Blanca 66 locations present physical limitations for expansion. "Gran Canaria's tourism network operates with rigidity and little room for growth: each high season requires a technical balancing act," explain sources consulted in the electricity sector.
The energy map confirms that San Bartolomé de Tirajana has the greatest energy stress on the island, followed by Mogán, where self-consumption projects barely cover 15% of demand. Despite the deployment of solar farms in Aldea Blanca and Juan Grande, renewable energy penetration in the tourist zone does not exceed 20%, maintaining a strong dependence on the island's thermal system.
In a scenario of record winter bookings, with one million tourists expected between November and February, REE is considering reinforcing the substations in El Tablero and Arguineguín before 2026. Meanwhile, experts recommend making consumption more flexible at large hotel facilities and promoting local daytime generation to alleviate nighttime peaks. "Each additional occupancy point is equivalent to thousands of air conditioning units, swimming pools, and elevators operating at the same time," notes a hotel manager from Meloneras. "The system is holding up, but without new investments, it will begin to suffer."
