Spanish Government Approves Emergency Power Plant in Tenerife

Project Overview

• The Spanish government has officially approved the construction of a new emergency power plant in Los Realejos, Tenerife.
• The project is part of efforts to address electricity supply vulnerabilities in the Canary Islands.
• Proposed by Sampol I. y O. Canarias.
• Involves installing eight diesel generators with a total capacity of nearly 15 MW.
• Designed to operate during critical supply shortages.

Context and Justification

• The development follows a declared energy emergency in October 2023.
• The emergency mandated urgent measures to secure electricity during periods of shortfall.
• The plant aims to bolster the islands' energy resilience with a temporary backup system.

Environmental and Operational Aspects

• The project has faced criticism for environmental and health concerns.
• Authorities emphasize it will only operate when there's a genuine risk to power supply.
• Authorization includes:
  • Strict compliance measures
  • Technical conditions
  • Environmental safeguards
• Maximum operational period is three years, extendable if needed.

Public and Strategic Support

• Public consultation and technical assessments largely supported the project.
• Some opposition raised concerns about environmental impacts and renewable energy integration hurdles.
• The plant's construction is a strategic move to prevent outages.
• Supports the broader energy transition in the Canary Islands.
• Strives to balance urgent supply needs with sustainability commitments.

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