Opposition to Disa

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura has refused to declare the Majorera I photovoltaic plant a project of public and social interest. The proposal, promoted by Disa Renovables, would have placed a 4 MW solar park on gavias—traditional irrigation channels—covering 4.3 hectares and posing a flood‑risk according to the island’s Hydrological Plan.

Negative reports from the Island Water Council and the Cultural Heritage area highlighted the impact on a historic, landscape‑valued agricultural system. The developer’s plan called for more than 7,000 solar panels on the chained gavias, with a budget exceeding €3 million.

Location Just 30 Metres from Panchito Ramos Residents

The Cabildo states the plant would be at the entrance of Gran Tarajal (Tuineje), while the municipal report locates it in Polygon 4, Parcel 238 of La Mata. Project maps show the solar park sitting entirely on gavias, only 30 m from the nearest house in the Panchito Ramos neighbourhood.

Protecting Heritage and Natural Environments

“We will not allow, at any time, that these energy systems negatively impact our heritage and natural environments.” – Lola García, President of the Cabildo

Territorial Planning counselor Nereida Calero added that the Cabildo is drafting the Territorial Energy Plan (Plan‑TE), which must define zones for clean‑energy installations that are compatible with the island’s heritage and agrarian identity.

Context of Regional Renewable Acceleration Zones

The Canary Islands government announced it will limit the application of article 6‑bis of the Canary Electric Sector Law— which lets renewable promoters bypass planning—only to designated “renewable acceleration zones.”

Fuerteventura currently has no such zones, unlike Lanzarote. The island’s Territorial Planning counselor Nereida Calero rejected the formula, and Natalia Évora, a CC‑AM deputy, voiced concerns in the Canary Parliament’s Territorial Policy Committee.

Municipal Rejection

The Tuineje City Council also issued an unfavorable report, citing incompatibility with municipal planning and questioning the project’s public interest.

• Evelyn Ávila, Urbanism councilor, prioritized reviewing this and other renewable‑project files in 2024, demanding urgent municipal studies on all proposed installations.
• Mariano H. Zapata, Councillor for Ecological Transition, publicly stated his department will not fast‑track projects that involve land expropriation.

Nearby Solar‑Park Controversy

Residents of Llanos de la Higuera have already suffered from another solar park installed without a favourable report from the Island Water Council. The Cabildo ordered that plant to be halted, describing the process as irregular—a story detailed in a previous Fuerteventura Digital report.

Majorera I Project Details

• 7,560 Trina Solar 690 W modules (peak power 5.2 MWp, nominal 4 MW)
• 4.3 ha of land (approximately 4 hectares)
• Includes a transformation centre, underground evacuation line, and a construction budget of over €3.1 million
• Fixed‑tilt structures at 20°, equipped with digital control systems, targeting >22 % efficiency per module

The Cabildo’s rejection underscores the tension between renewable‑energy ambitions and the preservation of Fuerteventura’s unique agricultural heritage and landscape.