The third edition of the Canary Islands Renewable Energy Forum (FERC III), organized by Wattkraft and Green Efficient, was a huge success in terms of attendance and participation. This meeting thus consolidates its position as a key forum for promoting the energy transition in the archipelago. Over two days in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, institutional representatives, industry experts, and specialized companies discussed the future of renewable energy and energy storage in the region.

“It’s a real pleasure for us to be able to organize these types of events, which provide an ideal opportunity to debate and exchange ideas with partners and public stakeholders. Without a doubt, our collaboration will be essential to achieving the decarbonization of the islands and society as a whole,” emphasized Sissy Martín Cabrera, Director of Business Development at Wattkraft Iberia.

“Transforming our energy consumption model is a very ambitious challenge, which is why we believe that spaces like FERC are essential to foster debate and the exchange of ideas among all stakeholders involved in the process, from the public to the private sector. Those of us who are part of this sector must work to create synergies that allow us to confidently address the challenges we face in terms of regulation, storage, security, and new technologies,” explained Sebastián Martínez Graciano, CEO of Green Efficient.

The event was attended by prominent figures such as Julieta Schallenberg, Deputy Minister of Ecological Transition, the Fight against Climate Change, and Energy of the Canary Islands Government; Raquel Moreno de la Rosa , Director of the Energy Transition Projects Unit of the Canary Islands Government; Alberto Hernández Suárez, Director General of Energy of the Canary Islands Government; Manuel Fernández Vega, Councilor of the Tenerife Island Council; Mariano Hernández Zapata , Councilor of the Canary Islands Government; Rosa Mingo , Head of Energy Transition in the islands at IDAE; and Dr. Alexis Lozano Medina , Island Director of Energy and Climate, among others.

Energy transition through storage

Among the most relevant topics discussed at the forum was the need to accelerate energy storage. In this regard, Alberto Hernández Suárez emphasized that “we have managed to streamline the processing of Next Generation grant applications, and now it is essential to execute the projects.” From the private sector, ASEALEN emphasized the importance of promoting storage both behind the meter and in distributed generation.

For her part, Raquel Moreno de la Rosa announced the approval of a new call for energy storage grants worth €700 million across the peninsula and the Canary Islands, emphasizing that the Canary Islands will have their own budget, with subsidies that can reach up to 85%. In addition, Moreno de la Rosa also confirmed the Canary Islands Government’s upcoming €30 million grant to promote self-consumption.

Local projects that promote sustainability on the islands

Another key point discussed at the meeting was local participation in the development of renewable energy. Amparo Agrait , of the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF), welcomed the Canary Islands’ Climate Change Law’s push in this area, although she warned that the draft decree should avoid imposing criteria that jeopardize project viability and guarantee legal certainty.

Meanwhile, at the technology and safety panel , the importance of a meticulous and well-planned facility design from the initial phase was highlighted. Likewise, the need to select equipment that guarantees the highest safety standards was emphasized, thus ensuring efficiency, reliability, and protection in renewable energy projects.

Furthermore, representatives from the city councils agreed on the need to “all pull in the same direction to achieve decarbonization.”

FERC III has reaffirmed its role as an essential meeting point for advancing the energy transition in the Canary Islands, highlighting the importance of collaboration between administrations, businesses, and society to achieve sustainability and energy efficiency goals on the islands.