Renewable Energy Gains Momentum in the Canary Islands
The share of renewable energy in the Canary Islands’ electricity mix grew significantly in 2024, reaching 20.81% of the total net production. While this marks important progress, it still places the archipelago far behind mainland Spanish regions like Castilla y León, Aragón, and Galicia, and well below the national target of 48% renewable energy by 2030.
A Record Year for Clean Energy Production
Beyond the overall proportion in the energy mix, 2024 was a landmark year for the absolute output of clean energy. Production from renewable sources increased by 8.3%, representing the highest number of megawatts ever generated from renewables in the islands. In contrast, electricity produced from petroleum derivatives saw a minimal decrease of just 0.09%.
The Dominance of Fossil Fuels and the Path Forward
Despite the growth of green energy, oil-based power generation remains predominant in the Canary Islands, accounting for 79.2% of the total. However, data from the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC) shows a consistent downward trend. This dependency has been gradually reducing, from 83.63% in 2019 to 80.50% last year, indicating a slow but steady shift toward a more sustainable model.
Breaking Down the Renewable Mix
Wind power is the clear leader among renewables in the archipelago, contributing 15.85% of the total electricity production. Solar photovoltaic energy follows at 4.56%, with other sources making smaller contributions: hydro-wind at 0.26%, biogas at 0.10%, and hydropower at 0.04%.
Island by Island: A Tale of Two Speeds
The adoption of renewable energy varies dramatically from island to island, highlighting the unique challenges and successes across the archipelago. El Hierro stands out as a pioneering example, generating an impressive 43.7% of its electricity from renewable sources. This contrasts sharply with La Palma (8.77%) and Lanzarote (8.95%), where renewable infrastructure is less developed.
Seasonal Variations and Energy Consumption
Significant monthly fluctuations also occur. In July 2024, the share of renewables peaked at 27.05%, while in March, it dipped to just 15.90%. Overall electricity consumption in the Canaries reached 8,319 gigawatts last year, a slight increase of 0.91%. The largest consuming sectors were commerce and public services (39%), followed by households (33%) and the hospitality industry (17.7%).
