This week marks two years since the total blackout that affected La Gomera. That episode highlighted the structural weaknesses of our island electrical system and underlined the urgency of acting with determination. Today we can affirm that we have made significant progress, although there are still crucial challenges to be addressed.
The recent completion of the El Palmar electrical substation, the first Red Eléctrica infrastructure on the island, represents a decisive step in the improvement of our energy system. This installation, which is part of the underwater link with Tenerife, not only reinforces the capacity to respond to incidents, but also facilitates the integration of renewable energies, aligning with the sustainable island model that we defend from the Cabildo.
The electrical interconnection with Tenerife – scheduled to be completed at the end of this year – has been a historical demand and, at the same time, a vision of the future. This project, which links Chío with El Palmar through a 36 kilometer submarine cable, will provide La Gomera with essential energy support and create an infrastructure prepared for a fair and efficient energy transition.
But interconnection is not an end in itself. It is the means that will allow us to leave behind a model based on fossil fuels. With the entry into operation of five wind farms, La Gomera already generates more energy than it consumes and with the new infrastructures the penetration of renewables will be even greater. Furthermore, thanks to this new link with Tenerife, we will be able to share this surplus with the regional electricity system, thus contributing to the decarbonization of the Canary Islands.
However, we still have pending tasks. The renewal of the equipment at the El Palmar thermal power plant is a priority. This is a key infrastructure, which requires modernization to respond to current demands for quality, efficiency and safety. Likewise, closing the island electrical ring is essential to guarantee the continuity of supply in all municipalities and reduce exposure to possible technical failures.
In parallel, we continue to support a decentralized and clean energy model. More than 150 self-consumption facilities are already operational in homes and businesses on the island, and La Gomera leads the country in density of charging points for electric vehicles. These actions are part of the commitment acquired to achieve a 100% sustainable territory, in which citizens are also being the protagonists of the change.
The progress achieved is not the result of improvisation, but of coordinated work between administrations, companies and society itself. I especially appreciate the efforts of all public administrations and companies: Government of Spain, Government of the Canary Islands and Red Eléctrica.
Is there still a way to go? Yes. But today La Gomera is better prepared and, shortly, more connected and closer to becoming an energy reference within the archipelago.
Casimiro Curbelo
