Iceland is distinguished by its efficient use of geothermal energy by taking advantage of its natural resources to generate electricity and heat sustainably. This initiative has contributed to making the country a world leader in the field of clean energy. However, Spain is not far behind as it has similar potential in the Canary Islands and Madrid.
The National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) has placed an ambitious focus on developing geothermal capacity in Spain. The goal is to reach 15 megawatts of electricity production before 2025 and raise this number to 30 megawatts by 2030.
This type of renewable energy uses heat from within the Earth to generate electricity in a sustainable way. Therefore, all selected projects, whether public or private, are obligated to conduct at least one survey 1,000 meters underground to determine the availability of high-temperature geothermal resources. If successful, these studies will open an opportunity to exploit and develop the first medium- and high-level deep geothermal projects for electricity generation or direct thermal uses.
The deadline for submitting feasibility reports is set for June 2026, and Spain aims to establish itself as a benchmark in the field of geothermal energy as a source of sustainable and renewable energy.
Currently, an important geothermal project is being developed in the Canary Islands to take advantage of its energy potential, which could transform not only the energy panorama of the islands, but also of the entire Spain.
This archipelago is home to the largest source of medium- and high-temperature geothermal energy in Spain, with the potential to meet a significant portion of domestic electricity demand. Of the €117 million allocated by the Ministry of Ecological Transition through the IDAE, approximately €112 million has been allocated to studies in La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, developed by the Instituto Technological Renewable Energy (ITER) alliance with the organization Disa. Or the Canary Islands Institute of Volcanology or the Canary Islands Geothermal Energy and others. The remaining five million are destined for Madrid, in a project led by Repsol Exploración SA.
(tags for translation) Spain
