The Canary Islands Government, through the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy, has approved the hybridization project with energy storage for the Punta Tenefé wind farm in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. This initiative, promoted by Marina South Beach (Satocan), received a decisive boost following the publication of a favorable Environmental Impact Assessment on February 18, 2026. The project has received a grant of €1,5 million from the European NextGenerationEU funds, earmarked for improving the efficiency of the island's electrical system through the incorporation of next-generation batteries.
The infrastructure is based on a 4,5 MWh storage system comprised of two modular containers and thirteen electrochemical battery racks. These facilities will be located on an industrial site where the wind farm is already operating, utilizing the existing roads and transformer substation. The technical design includes a 54-meter underground power line to connect the batteries to the grid, thus minimizing any visual impact or disturbance to the ground in an area already transformed by energy activity.
During the evaluation process, several public bodies conditioned their approval on the implementation of strict corrective measures. The Biodiversity Service focused on the protection of steppe birds such as the cream-colored courser and the stone-curlew, species with documented presence in the vicinity of Castillo del Romeral. For its part, the Historical Heritage Service of the Gran Canaria Island Council issued its approval after requiring a specific study to guarantee the integrity of the area's archaeological and cultural assets, given the historical significance of the island's southeast.
The developer's analysis of alternatives confirmed that the chosen location, designated Alternative 1, is the most favorable from both an environmental and functional standpoint. Its proximity to the existing control center drastically reduces the need for new trenches and cabling compared to other options located further west or northeast. Furthermore, its position maintains a safe distance of between 500 and 800 meters from the towns of El Matorral and Castillo del Romeral, preventing noise and vibration disturbances during the 22 weeks of construction.
With the approval of this decree, not only is the construction of the storage system authorized, but the modification of the affected land-use plan is also mandated to accommodate this green infrastructure. The system will have a lifespan of 25 years, after which the developer is obligated to completely dismantle it and restore the land. This hybrid system is presented as a scalable model for other industrial parks in the Canary Islands, seeking more flexible management of renewable energy and reducing the archipelago's historical dependence on fossil fuels.
