Lanzarote’s Energy Transition Needs Rethinking, Report Says
A recent report commissioned by the César Manrique Foundation urges that Lanzarote’s energy transition should adopt a different model to the one currently proposed for land and marine wind farms. The study, released in June, was conducted by the Bioeconomy, Natural Resources and Ecological Economics Group from the University of Santiago de Compostela. It explores the potential energy, environmental, and socio-economic impacts of wind energy development in the Canary Islands, focusing particularly on Lanzarote.
The Foundation commissioned the report to protect Lanzarote’s heritage and key elements essential for the island’s sovereignty, including its land and community.
The report stresses the necessity of reducing dependence on fossil fuels while adapting the energy transition to the island’s unique characteristics, given that Lanzarote is designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
Alternative Solutions
Currently, the Canary Islands import 97.5% of their energy, with around 90% of electricity in Lanzarote generated from fossil fuels. The report suggests prioritising measures like upgrading existing wind farms, installing solar panels on urban and industrial rooftops, fostering energy communities, and improving water distribution networks, which suffer substantial energy losses.
One section highlights the Renewable Acceleration Zones (ZAR) proposed in energy planning. Researchers found that 73.67% of lands within these designated areas in Lanzarote are classified as agricultural protection zones, raising concerns about potential conflicts with agricultural activities. Wind farms could impact 4.94% of arable land, an alarming figure given that Lanzarote has lost 1,323 hectares of farmland in the past 30 years.
The report states that European regulation suggests ZARs should favour degraded lands over productive ones, a recommendation not adequately reflected in current plans.
Concerns Over Marine Wind Energy
While considering offshore wind energy, the report notes that proposed sites overlap significantly with zones of active artisanal fishing. The methodology for selecting these areas has been questioned, as it overlooks many smaller fishing vessels. Scientific uncertainties about the environmental effects of floating wind technology underscore the need for dedicated studies before new projects proceed.
The report also finds the public participation model during infrastructure planning to be inadequate, recommending a more engaged approach involving local communities and public or cooperative ownership models to ensure economic benefits remain on the island.
In conclusion, the authors advocate for a careful approach to decarbonisation in Lanzarote, balancing climate objectives with the preservation of its landscape, agricultural land, artisanal fishing, and socio-economic model, all underpinned by scientific research and community engagement before any wind farm developments are approved.
Key Recommendations
The report lays out specific recommendations:
- Prioritise upgrading existing wind farms, sensible solar rooftop installations, utilising degraded land, and promoting local energy communities.
- Improve the water distribution network to significantly reduce the sector’s energy consumption without installing new wind turbines.
- Develop a renewable strategy that emphasises public ownership and respects the territory and identity of Lanzarote, ensuring that economic benefits remain local.
This study was authored by a team from the University of Santiago de Compostela, led by Principal Investigator Rosa María Regueiro Ferreira, alongside specialists Torcuato Teixeira Valoria and Damiano Volpi. They examined the energy, environmental, and socio-economic implications of wind development in the Canary Islands, particularly focusing on Lanzarote.
For more details, consult the report here.
