Ecoener inaugurates five new wind farms in La Gomera and secures position as renewable energy leader in the Canary Islands

04 | 03 | 2023

Ecoener inaugurates five new wind farms in La Gomera and secures position as renewable energy leader in the Canary Islands

  • Ecoener Chairman Luis de Valdivia said: “We are very proud of the milestone represented by the construction of these wind farms and of our contribution to the 100% Sustainable La Gomera project.”
  • The wind farms have replanting initiatives in place for more than 1,000 native trees covering a total area of 21,000 square metres.
  • Total investment in the construction of the wind farms, which have a combined production capacity of 12 MW, stood at over €17 million.
  • Ecoener has invested more than €140 million in various projects throughout the Canary Islands.

San Sebastián de La Gomera, 30 March, 2023.- Grupo Ecoener has inaugurated five new wind farms in San Sebastián de La Gomera today with a combined generation capacity of 12 MW, following a total investment of over €17 million, strengthening the company’s existing leadership position in renewable energy production in the Canary Islands.

Ecoener Chairman Luis de Valdivia said: “Today is a big day. We are very proud of this construction milestone, delivered thanks to the tireless efforts of an extensive team, and of our contribution to the 100% Sustainable La Gomera Plan.” He went on to add: “We are committed to continuing to support the energy transition in the Canary Islands, where we have now invested over €140 million in our assets over the course of 20 years.”

The inauguration in San Sebastián de La Gomera was attended by the Regional President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, the President of the Island Council of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, and the Regional Minister for the Ecological Transition, the Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning, José Antonio Valbuena, as well as the Mayor of San Sebastián de La Gomera, Adasat Reyes, among other authorities and representatives of business and social organisations in the region.

Construction milestone

The La Gomera wind farms are a landmark achievement for Ecoener, as they were developed through a highly intensive five-month process due to the orographic and meteorological conditions in the areas where they are located and to the significant logistical challenges involved in developing a project of this scope in such a tight timeframe. The construction process involved a multi-disciplinary team comprising 200 highly-skilled professionals.

These assets are also a clear reflection of the core components of Ecoener’s strategy: an unwavering commitment to renewable energy to reduce emissions, technology innovation with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance energy efficiency and protect the environment, and strong support for society and the local economy.

Environmental regeneration model

The wind farms in La Gomera also feature specific environmental initiatives, including an ambitious regeneration and recovery programme in partnership with the local nursery run by the Island Council of La Gomera and the La Gomera Association for Functional Diversity.

In partnership with these organisations, a replanting initiative is currently underway for more than 1,000 native trees and bushes, covering a total area of 21,000 square metres. The species used in the replanting initiative are Bituminaria bituminosa (tedera), Plocama pendula (balo) and Kleinia neriifolia (verode), among others.

The wind turbines at the farms are also equipped with modern environmental conservation systems to protect local bird life.

The new La Gomera wind farms can generate enough renewable energy to supply almost 11,000 households and avoid the emission of over 23,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, which will deliver substantial progress towards the complete decarbonisation of the Canary Islands, targeted for 2040. The inauguration of this complex represents a key milestone in Ecoener’s strategic plan.

Global footprint

The capacity of Ecoener assets in operation and under construction now stands at a total 420 MW. Of this total, 45% is located in Spain and 55% in the Americas.

The company currently has seven hydroelectric plants, 15 wind farms and 13 solar photovoltaic plants in operation. It also has in the region of 1.7 GW under development, with a series of projects underway for international expansion and growth.

Ecoener posted net profit of €20.2 million in 2022, 3.6x more than the €5.6 million reported in 2021. The company’s revenues in 2022 were €72.9 million, up 83% versus €39.9 million in 2021, with total production of 382 GWh.