Energy transition
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El Hierro wind turbines
"A defined area that features geological traits of particular relevance, rarity or beauty". This is how UNESCO defines the smallest, newest and farthest south of the Canary Islands. UNESCO has declared the island os El Hierro "a biosphere reserve and geo-park".
Today, the island has also become the first to live off its own 100% renewable energy.
This is the result of the El Hierro 100% Renewable Project, managed by Gorona del Viento El Hierro S.A. and including the El Hierro Island Council (65.82%), Endesa (23.21%), the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (7.74%) and the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (3.23%).
El Hierro 100% Renewable is a ground-breaking challenge that applies a new energy model. It is one of Endesa’s landmark initiatives to contribute to sustainable development and help fight climate change.
Renewable energies are obtained from inexhaustible natural resources, such as wind, light and heat from the sun (solar), the interior of the Earth (geothermal), and waves from the sea. In the case of El Hierro, wind and hydraulic energy are used in combination at the Gorona del Viento hydro-wind power plant which was opened in 2014 and to which a photovoltaic plant will also be added in the short term.
El Hierro, 100% renewable
We have implemented the only initiative on Earth capable of self-supplying a population as large as that of El Hierro with the Gorona del Viento hydroelectric plant.
Wind farm
Able to supply electricity simultaneously straight to the grid and the pumping station.
It consists of five Enercon E-70 2.3 MW wind turbines with a total power of 11.5 MW.
Wind farm
Able to supply electricity simultaneously straight to the grid and the pumping station.
It consists of five Enercon E-70 2.3 MW wind turbines with a total power of 11.5 MW.
Wind farm
Able to supply electricity simultaneously straight to the grid and the pumping station.
It consists of five Enercon E-70 2.3 MW wind turbines with a total power of 11.5 MW.
Pumping station
Using energy supplied by the wind farm, it pumps seawater from a lower 150,000 m³ reservoir to a higher 400,000 m³ reservoir.
It has two 1500 kW and six 500 kW pumps, with a total power of 6 MW.
Pumping station
Using energy supplied by the wind farm, it pumps seawater from a lower 150,000 m³ reservoir to a higher 400,000 m³ reservoir.
It has two 1500 kW and six 500 kW pumps, with a total power of 6 MW.
Pumping station
Using energy supplied by the wind farm, it pumps seawater from a lower 150,000 m³ reservoir to a higher 400,000 m³ reservoir.
It has two 1500 kW and six 500 kW pumps, with a total power of 6 MW.
Turbine plant
On days with little wind, the pumping plant releases the water stored in the upper tank from a height of 655 meters to activate the turbines and generate the necessary electricity.
It includes four 2,830 kW Pelton pump groups with a total power of 11.32 MW, and a maximum flow in generation of 2 m³/sec.
Turbine plant
On days with little wind, the pumping plant releases the water stored in the upper tank from a height of 655 meters to activate the turbines and generate the necessary electricity.
It includes four 2,830 kW Pelton pump groups with a total power of 11.32 MW, and a maximum flow in generation of 2 m³/sec.
Turbine plant
On days with little wind, the pumping plant releases the water stored in the upper tank from a height of 655 meters to activate the turbines and generate the necessary electricity.
It includes four 2,830 kW Pelton pump groups with a total power of 11.32 MW, and a maximum flow in generation of 2 m³/sec.
Photovoltaic plant
With this El Hierro will increase clean energy from 50% to 80% of the total, making the island a global benchmark with regard to renewable energy and self-sufficiency.
The first phase of implementation of the project will guarantee 5MW for the photovoltaic plant and a further 5MW for the group of batteries. In the second phase this will increase with a further 7WV and a second 5MW battery which will achieve a decarbonisation of 100%.
Photovoltaic plant
With this El Hierro will increase clean energy from 50% to 80% of the total, making the island a global benchmark with regard to renewable energy and self-sufficiency.
The first phase of implementation of the project will guarantee 5MW for the photovoltaic plant and a further 5MW for the group of batteries. In the second phase this will increase with a further 7WV and a second 5MW battery which will achieve a decarbonisation of 100%.
Photovoltaic plant
With this El Hierro will increase clean energy from 50% to 80% of the total, making the island a global benchmark with regard to renewable energy and self-sufficiency.
The first phase of implementation of the project will guarantee 5MW for the photovoltaic plant and a further 5MW for the group of batteries. In the second phase this will increase with a further 7WV and a second 5MW battery which will achieve a decarbonisation of 100%.
Map illustrating the location of the Gorona del Viento Hydroelectric Power Plant in El Hierro (Canary Islands)
El Hierro in figures
10,600 inhabitants.
Three municipalities.
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2000.
El Hierro in figures
10,600 inhabitants.
Three municipalities.
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2000.
El Hierro in figures
10,600 inhabitants.
Three municipalities.
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2000.
Main milestones
1997: Approval of the El Hierro Sustainability Plan.
2014: Inauguration of the Gorona del Viento hydroelectric power plant.
2015: On August 9 at 12 noon, 100% renewable energy was used for the first time for four hours.
2023: Presentation of the new project to expand by installing a photovoltaic plant.
Main milestones
1997: Approval of the El Hierro Sustainability Plan.
2014: Inauguration of the Gorona del Viento hydroelectric power plant.
2015: On August 9 at 12 noon, 100% renewable energy was used for the first time for four hours.
2023: Presentation of the new project to expand by installing a photovoltaic plant.
Main milestones
1997: Approval of the El Hierro Sustainability Plan.
2014: Inauguration of the Gorona del Viento hydroelectric power plant.
2015: On August 9 at 12 noon, 100% renewable energy was used for the first time for four hours.
2023: Presentation of the new project to expand by installing a photovoltaic plant.
Benefits in the next 20 years
Our goal
The goal of this project is to meet the island's demand for electricity with renewable energy, guaranteeing network stability.
Reduce fuel consumption
6,000
fewer tons of diesel in the next 20 years (about 40,000 barrels of oil).
Reduce CO₂
19,000
tons of CO₂ less in the next 20 years.
How does the hydro-wind system work?
The hydro-wind system consists of a wind farm, a hydroelectric power plant, a pumping station and two water tanks. A photovoltaic plant will be added to this installation.
The wind farm has five wind turbines and 11.5 MW of installed power (5 x 2.3 MW). To give you an idea, a household consumes 4,000 KWh a year. This means that Gorona del Viento can already supply electricity to 5,000 families. When the project will be completed, it will power the entire population of the island.
In addition to supplying households with electricity, the wind turbines supply energy to several pumping stations to retain water in a raised tank.
The water in this tank is a way of storing energy as it slides towards the lowest part of the island by the force of gravity, powering the hydroelectric plant.
The hydroelectric power plant has a power of 11.3 MW (4 x 2.83 MW) and the pumping station 6 MW (2 x 1.5 MW + 6 x 0.5 MW).
The lower tank can hold 150,000 m3 of water and the top tank, which is built in a natural volcanic basin, can store 380,000 m3.
The photovoltaic plant will have an initial power of 5MW, to which a further 5MW are added by means of batteries. In the second phase, a further 7MW will be added as well as another 5MW battery.
Self-sufficiency for the island with renewable energy
In August 2015, as a result of the hydro-wind power plant, the people of El Hierro achieved their goal for the first time. On the 9th, at noon, the Gorona del Viento power plant generated all the electricity on the island for four hours through the use of renewable energy. In the following years, the island's 100% renewable generation period has been extended. It has become a global pioneer.
“Currently the wind-hydro power plant is capable of covering 75% of annual electricity demand with renewable sources. This percentage will keep on growing if we now work on adapting this demand to the efficient model using alternative energies that El Hierro has laid out in its 100% Renewable Project.”
Belén Allende, President of the Gorona del Viento and El Hierro Council
Savings in emissions and the use of fossil fuels
With this system, in 2021 alone there was an annual saving of 18,116 tons of CO2 emissions and 6,040 tons of unconsumed diesel fuel. To this we should add a reduction in emissions and consumption by electric vehicles expected in the development plan for this new technology on the island.
The Gorona del Viento hydro-wind power plant currently produces all the energy needed by the island, with an annual average of 60% of this energy exclusively from renewable sources, which often reaches 100%.
The effectiveness of this project improves year by year. In 2021, the plant managed to generate 100% of the electricity needed by the island for 1,328 hours. Now with the addition of the photovoltaic plant, in the first phase there will be 80% decarbonisation which will increase to 100% in the second phase.
If you want to see more images of El Hierro, access the digital album
In addition, you can consult more information on the website of Gorona del viento.
