The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands has defended the dialogue with the island councils to advance in the planning of the deployment of renewable energies in the archipelago through the so-called Renewable Acceleration Zones (RAZ).
The Deputy Minister of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Energy, Julieta Schallenberg, has pointed out this Monday in a statement that the objective of the regional Executive is to order the development of clean energies after years without energy planning instruments in the Canary Islands.
Schallenberg has indicated that these zones seek to facilitate the implementation of wind and photovoltaic projects in suitable spaces, guaranteeing at the same time the protection of the territory, biodiversity and agricultural areas.
In this regard, it has assured that the autonomous Government has committed to not voluntarily apply article 6 bis of the Electricity Sector Law as an extraordinary means to authorize renewable installations outside of planned areas.
The deputy minister has also stressed that the Government keeps open collaboration with the island councils to adapt the planning to the reality of each island and offer legal certainty to the development of new energy projects.
Likewise, he has recalled that the Canary Islands are lagging behind in the implementation of renewables, with a contribution of 21% to the energy mix compared to 57% on the peninsula, which keeps the archipelago in a situation of strong dependence on oil.
According to the Government of the Canary Islands, the Renewable Acceleration Zones are part of a broader strategy that includes the mandatory installation of photovoltaic roofs on new buildings, the promotion of solar energy in anthropized areas, and the development of the agrivoltaics regulation.
For Schallenberg, the delimitation of these zones is based on a technical analysis that excludes protected natural spaces such as national parks or areas of the Natura 2000 Network and incorporates environmental, agricultural, and urban planning variables.
The deputy minister has insisted that the objective of the Government of the Canary Islands is to advance towards a more sustainable energy model that reduces the energy dependence of the archipelago and is compatible with the protection of the territory and the landscape.