The president of the Canarian Government and the chairwoman of Redeia visit a key exhibition to understand the ecological and digital transformation

The president of Canarias, Ángel Victor Torres, and the chairwoman of Redeia, Beatriz Corredor, have inaugurated today the exhibition “Connected to the future: The Energy Transition”, at the Elder Science and Technology Museum of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 

Redeia’s show, which starts in Gran Canaria its journey through the archipelago, addresses the keys of the energy transition and the active role of citizenship in this process, the impact of the climate emergency and the sustainability commitments in the 2030 Agenda. It is also focused on the digital transformation the country is undergoing.

The president of the Canarian Government stated that, with this project and other projects driven in the last months and years, Canarias shows that “it is on the journey towards sustainability”. In addition, he reminded that its Executive team declared the Climate Emergency just at the start of its run and has prepared the Climate Change Act, “which is already at the Parliament, which I expect will soon be passed and which has the most participation in history”. As he highlighted, in his three-year term more megawatts have been approved than in the previous ten years, “which evidences that the promotion of decarbonisation is decided from the Canary Islands, but also from the Spanish Government".

Torres also congratulated himself on the main axis of this future sustainability strategy matching the main themes in this exhibition: the integration of renewables in public buildings, energy storage, electric mobility and charging, self-consumption, efficiency and digital transformation and tourism.

In turn, Beatriz Corredor, chairwoman of Redeia, stated that “through this exhibition we drive dissemination as a way of highlighting the central role consumers have in ecological transition. Because this process will only be a success if we are all actively involved and if citizens feel they are the stars in the energy transition. We must count on them as essential allies. With this inauguration, Redeia acknowledges the commitment of the Canary Islands with this transformation and the fight against climate change in the region”.

The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, was also in attendance in the inauguration event. He highlighted that “Salto de Chira is a fundamental piece to move towards an energy model based on renewable energies and doing so in a safe manner guaranteeing supply”. It will allow us to increase by 36% the penetration of clean energies to eventually exceed 50%. Moreover, this project is the one that is going to create the most jobs in the island in the upcoming years, and 600 unemployed people started their training so they can work in the construction works, evidencing that environmental, economic and social aspects are linked and have common solutions”.

Moreover, the regional secretary for Ecological Transition, the Fight Against Climate Change and Land Planning in the Canarian Government, José Antonio Valbuena, the director of the Elder Museum, José Gilberto Moreno, and Redeia’s delegate in the Canary Islands, Ainara Irigoyen have all attended the exhibition. 

Advances in energy transition

During the act, both presidents recognised the advances the Canary Islands have made in the transformation of its energy model with the boost of Red Eléctrica. Corredor highlighted the efforts made by the system operator and transmitter to strengthen the transmission network in the islands and promote the safe integration of renewable energies.

Redeia’s chairwoman has valued the 800 million euros investment observing the Electric Planning 21-26 for the Canary Islands. With it, Red Eléctrica moves forward with strategic projects such as the Lanzarote-Fuerteventura link, whose commissioning will take place soon, or the one that will join Tenerife and La Gomera, an essential project that is currently in its environmental study stage.

Red Eléctrica also works on other essential developments for the ecological transition to happen successfully in the archipelago. That is the case of the reverse hydroelectric power plant Salto de Chira in Gran Canarias, the first large storage system in the islands. When it is commissioned, renewable output will increase by 37%, allowing to reduce CO2 by 20% and it will result in savings of 122 million euros per year. At present, a desalination plant is being built and in the upcoming months it is expected the electromechanics and civil contracts will be awarded.

Thus, Salto de Chira has its own module in which, with augmented reality glasses, attendants can know about and visit the future plant.

An interactive digital exhibition for all audiences

This show combines the analogical and digital approach and is divided in several modules with educational interactive content with tests, games, experiments and the resolution of an escape room. 

At the first stop, visitors may immerse themselves in the world of energy and telecommunications. Through fun games and experiments, they will discover the properties of energy or the transfer of data and images.

The second stop goes into the “path of light” and how the Electricity Control Centre works, the “brain” from which Red Eléctrica operates the system to guarantee a safe quality supply of electricity.

The last modules allow the visitor to discover the challenges and commitments this energy model transformation entails and also acquire useful knowledge to become an active responsible consumer. 

Tickets may be obtained by registration on the following website: www.conectadosalfuturo.com. In October, the exhibition resumes its trip around the Canary Islands with its second stop in Tenerife.