Gran Canaria’s Rural Energy Revolution
Gran Canaria has successfully concluded a pioneering community initiative, establishing seven new energy communities across its less populated municipalities. This ambitious project aims to create a more just, participatory, and sustainable energy model for the island’s rural heartland.
Where the New Energy Communities Are Blooming
The new energy communities have been formally established in Agaete, Artenara, Firgas, La Aldea de San Nicolás, Moya, Vega de San Mateo, and Valsequillo. They join the pre-existing community in Valleseco, which was originally spearheaded by its local council. This expansion is part of a national program for Community Transformation Offices, driven by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) and financed by European Next Generation EU funds.
More Than Just Clean Energy
At the project’s closing ceremony, Raúl García Brink, Minister of Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge for Gran Canaria, highlighted the collaborative effort. He expressed gratitude for “the commitment of the OTC team, as well as the collaboration of the town councils, associations, and residents, as together we have managed to make real progress in the island’s energy transition.”
He further emphasized that the Gran Canaria Energy Council will continue to promote these communities, which “not only produce clean energy but also strengthen the social fabric, boost the local economy, and reduce energy poverty, especially in these more remote rural municipalities.”
A Concrete Example of Local Impact
The closing event was also attended by local mayors and energy representatives. Davinia Falcón Marrero, Mayor of Vega de San Mateo, thanked the technical team for their dedication and highlighted a specific project: the photovoltaic plant at the CEIP Profesor Rafael Gómez Santos school.
“This initiative will cover an important demand from the educational community, allowing students to go out and play on the court on hot and rainy days,” the mayor stated. This installation will also benefit the wider San Mateo Energy Community, demonstrating the tangible local benefits of the program.
Grassroots Engagement and Widespread Outreach
Since its launch in May 2024, the Community Transformation Office has been highly active on the ground. The team visited all nine of the island’s municipalities facing demographic challenges, working directly with town halls, associations, and local groups to demystify the concept of energy communities and guide residents through creating their own projects.
The outreach was extensive, featuring 35 informative talks, five stands at local fairs and events, and nine interviews on regional radio stations to raise the project’s profile. Furthermore, 48 mobile offices provided free, personalized advice to over 240 individuals and local entities, offering guidance on how to become part of an energy community.
Building a Solid Foundation for the Future
The advisory and support phases ran concurrently, using a mix of in-person, virtual, and mobile assistance. This comprehensive support focused on key areas including the development of management plans, the legal constitution of the energy communities, studies of rooftops with photovoltaic potential, drafting of technical pre-projects, processing of grants, and managing collective self-consumption through specialized software. This ensures that every newly created community has a robust structure for its long-term development.
Collaboration and a Lasting Legacy
The office also fostered collaboration with community transformation offices in Tenerife and El Rosario, sharing experiences and strategies to jointly promote the energy transition across the Canary Archipelago. The valuable work begun by this office will continue through the permanent Gran Canaria Community Transformation Office, which will provide ongoing advisory, dissemination, and support services for energy communities across the entire island.
