The GSIS 2026 international training program has kicked off in Gran Canaria, positioning the island as a living laboratory for sustainable solutions for island territories. Participants have begun a series of field visits designed to connect global strategies with real-world implementation on the ground. The main objective is to analyze how islands can develop energy and economic systems that are efficient, scalable, and adapted to their specific geographical realities.
The centerpiece of the tour was the Salto de Chira project. This pumped-storage hydroelectric plant represents the cornerstone of the energy transition in Gran Canaria, focusing on the integration of renewable energies and the stability of the island's electricity grid. International experts were able to observe how this infrastructure guarantees large-scale energy storage, allowing the island to become increasingly less dependent on external sources and move towards full decarbonization.
The technical agenda was rounded out with visits to pioneering initiatives such as the Biogreenfinery Project and ATH Bioenergy, where new avenues for generating clean fuels were explored. In the area of the blue economy, a visit to the Spanish Bank of Algae allowed participants to delve deeper into the potential of marine biotechnology as an engine of knowledge-based economic development. These visits underscore Gran Canaria's capacity to lead emerging sectors that respect marine biodiversity.
The balance between economic activity and environmental preservation was analyzed in the Maspalomas Dunes. In this protected area in the south of the island, discussions focused on ecosystem management in the face of pressure from tourism and land use. The exchange of experiences among participating islands reaffirmed that the success of sustainable development depends on sound technical implementation, adequate funding, and the ability to adapt global solutions to specific local contexts.
