Canary Islands Bet on Offshore Wind for Decarbonization
Government Calls for a Dedicated Offshore Wind Auction
The Vice‑President for Economy and Internationalisation of the Canary Islands Government, Gustavo González de Vega, urged the central government on Tuesday to set specific conditions for a dedicated offshore‑wind auction for the islands “so we do not keep losing the window of opportunity that this alternative energy represents for industrial development and the islands’ decarbonisation.”
“It is the best industrial development opportunity for the Canary Islands, and specifically a need for energy self‑sufficiency. However, the national auction that would make this possible has still not been launched. If you encounter difficulties organising the national auction as a whole, at least let the one for the Canary Islands go ahead. We have been missing the chance since 2021,” González de Vega said.
Industry Preparedness
Elba Bueno Cabrera, manager of the Canary Maritime Cluster (CMC), noted that the private sector “has not stopped working” to be ready for this moment.
“The whole value chain of the industry has been testing its capacity—from investments to the specific training of the workforce. Yes, the industry is prepared,” the business leader affirmed.
Risk of Capital Flight
The vice‑president warned that reports already show capital flowing to other projects and countries.
“They explicitly stated that they were abandoning the development once the deadline for their investment expectations was exceeded. This is truly dangerous; it is the window of opportunity we are losing,” González de Vega warned.
“There is interest in investing in the Canary Islands, but the delay—especially the lack of a specific auction—is causing those willing companies to look elsewhere. If they leave, it will be very hard for them to return. We are at a crucial moment; further delays could make us miss the train,” he added.
These statements were made during the presentation of the ECEAdvance public‑private collaboration project, which aims to boost flagship blue‑economy projects in the islands, with offshore wind as the main protagonist.
ECEAdvance Project Overview
The project started on 1 November 2024 and runs for nine months, structured around three core objectives:
- Technical groundwork for deploying marine renewable energy, based on a detailed study of port capacities and needs.
- Investment attraction through direct and reverse missions linked to the submarine‑cable industry.
- Governance and national positioning by designing, organising, documenting, and disseminating the “Spain in Blue” event, backed by a manifesto signed by Spanish clusters calling for a common Spanish Blue‑Economy Strategy.
Technical Study and Port Infrastructure
The technical study carried out by CODEXCA outlines a phased roadmap for Canary ports to play key roles in the offshore‑wind value chain, focusing on floating‑technology—from assembly and storage to installation, operation & maintenance, and eventual de‑commissioning.
- Phase 1 (2025‑2026): Planning and preparation – define port zones, assess drafts, access routes, and load‑bearing capacities; reconcile flows with other uses; draft basic projects and procedures.
- Phase 2 (2026‑2028): Execute technical works and investments, provide training, and support the business ecosystem.
- Phase 3 (2028‑2035): Launch and consolidate operations, with performance indicators and periodic reviews.
The document goes beyond diagnosis, proposing strategic axes, required infrastructures and capabilities, investment mobilisation, economic dynamisation, and multi‑level governance. It also benchmarks European reference ports to extract lessons applicable to the Canary Islands.
Submarine‑Cable Initiative
The submarine‑cable component aligns fully with the EU’s Action Plan on Cable Security, which places undersea cables—carrying 99 % of intercontinental Internet traffic—at the centre of European policy.
Through participation in events and meetings with industry leaders in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and others, the Canary Islands have positioned themselves as a known, evaluated, and credible option for submarine‑cable projects.
“We have managed to gain visibility in the submarine‑cable sector. We have worked with European, North‑American, Korean, and Japanese companies. It is a growing sector where we must be ready to signal our positioning while waiting for the right moment,” said Elba Bueno.
She highlighted emerging opportunities in manufacturing, repair, maintenance, and logistics for submarine cables, leveraging the islands’ strategic location in the Mid‑Atlantic.