Spain's Canary Islands to launch 400 MW wind and solar tenders

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The government of the Canary Islands has confirmed that it will hold two auctions for large-scale wind and solar power projects this year. It has been reported in local press that 100 MW will be allocated in the solar auction, and 300 MW wind projects will be awarded in the other auction. No dates were disclosed.

These auctions are part of the government's ten-year energy plan, the Estrategia Energética de Canarias 2015-2025, which aims to meet 45% of the islands' energy demand with renewable sources by 2025.

Local press also reported that the tenders will be subsidised with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER).

In June 2017, the Committee for Investments and Strategic Projects of the Canary Islands approved to 16 solar projects to be developed on the island of Gran Canaria. This includes a 1 MW solar park. 

Also in June 2017 the President of the Canary Islands met with the Spanish State Secretary of Energy to discuss details of the solar and wind auctions.

The Canary Islands has currently around 166 MW of installed PV capacity. 29.2 MW of wind power are produced on Gran Canaria. There are several wind projects in development:

• 32.8 MW Teguise I wind project in Lanzarote

• 18.4 MW Chimiche II wind farm in Tenerife

• 13.8 MW Las Aulagas wind farm in Tenerife

• 23 MW Bermejo and Vera de Abote wind farms in Tenerife

In addition, in August 2017 the European Investment Bank approved a financing package for wind farms in development in Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, with a total capacity of 49.6 MW.