<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/11/el-hierro-canary-islands-wind-hydro-power-renewable-energy-self-sufficiency-sustainability-aoe>
"A vertiginous outcrop with more than 500 volcanoes, El Hierro, the most
westerly of the Canary Islands, is less than 12 miles (20km) wide but features
elevation differences of more than 1,500 metres. Swept by strong Atlantic winds
and pockmarked with volcanic craters, it has spent the past decade harnessing
its natural features to create clean electricity – with the goal of being the
first island to reach self-sufficiency in energy.
Now, the island is reaching new milestones. Energy generated by wind and water
has enabled its 11,000 inhabitants to be completely self-sufficient in
electricity for 10,000 hours since its renewables project was established.
About 50% of the island’s annual demand is now supplied by renewables. El
Hierro is among the only isolated territories in the world to achieve this
level of energy self-sufficiency through renewables – shutting off diesel
engines and operating without external connection.
In 2019, it had already achieved the global landmark of becoming 100%
self-sufficient in electricity for nearly 25 days.
The second-smallest of the major Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off
north-west Africa, El Hierro is now a global laboratory for renewable energy
and sustainable models of farming and ocean management.
It is also a hotbed of biodiversity: more than 2,600 species have been recorded
on the island, 100 of which are endemic to El Hierro. Experts hope its work on
energy and habitat protection will provide a precedent for 730 million people
who live on islands around the world."
Via
Positive.News
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
