Greenalia and the marine cluster of the Canary Islands sign an agreement for the promotion of Canary Islands companies in the development of offshore wind energy in the islands

• The CEO of the renewable energy production company, Manuel García, and the president of the Canary Islands cluster, Vicente Marrero, signed an agreement aimed at establishing a common forum by which to address potential collaboration formulas to promote industrial products in the framework of offshore wind
• It is in the interest of both parties to maintain an ongoing exchange of information regarding the development of wind energy for promoting Canary Islands companies in manufacturing, construction and offshore parks startup works

Greenalia, headquartered in A Coruña, and Cluster Marítimo de Canarias (CMC) shall collaborate in the establishment of a common forum to promote industrial development of offshore wind energy. A collaboration framework with special interest at a time in which this technology is called to be one of the renewable energy sector levers of growth and in particular for a post-Covid 19 economic recovery.

It was so ratified by Greenalia’s CEO, Manuel García, and the president of CMC, Vicente Marrero, by signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), by which both undertake to study and design an implementation strategy that helps project development, that will position the islands as a place of reference in terms of offshore wind energy. Present upon signing was the CMC secretary, Guillermo Ramos, Greenalia’s Corporate Development and Sustainability director, Beatriz Mato, and the heads of Blue Lines Renewables, Juan Amate and Jose Luis Guerra, located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a technological developer of Greenalia’s offshore wind projects.

After the signing, Manuel García emphasized that Greenalia’s offshore wind energy projects will allow the deployment of this technology, not only in areas with high wind resource such as the Canary Islands or Galicia, but which will be key elements to reach more energy independence in the archipelago and at the same time meet the renewable energy generation objectives. The projects will mean a significant stimulus for qualified job creation opportunities and positioning Spain as a leader in one of the fastest growing industries worldwide.

To this effect, Greenalia has significantly progressed in 50 MW Gofio Wind Farm permitting process, to which the Environmental Impact Drafts and Studies of other four parks (Dunas, Mojo, Cardón and Guanche) can be added. All 50 MW projects located in the Southeast area of the Gran Canaria Island.

The chosen location is one of the top European wind resource areas, which is why the company considers it to be the ideal place for the deployment of this technology in Spain. For the development and operation of these projects, Greenalia will point to local companies in the islands, as it has already done in each phase of study, prospecting and preparing these projects, for which it has already partnered with Blue Lines Renewables.

For his part, the CMC president, Vicente Marrero, has positively assessed the agreement reached with Greenalia and has thanked this company for its confidence in Canary Islands companies. Marrero is confident in the quality of the services that many companies in the islands can provide, after signing this agreement, to the manufacturing, construction, startup, operation and maintenance works of the offshore wind farms. To Marrero it is a priority at this time to prepare Canary island companies for the development of a new emerging market, both in Europe and worldwide, with enormous growth expectations in the upcoming years, such as the floating base offshore wind energy market.

Vicente Marrero affirmed that the offshore renewable energy industry is a key element for the productive diversification promoted through the development of the blue economy, and reminded that the Canary Islands already has a specific strategy to implement it progressively, while the mandatory environmental regulation and the definition of the areas of the Canary Islands where offshore wind energy infrastructures may be installed is still pending. Lastly, the CMC president expressed that he is convinced that the industrial activity derived from the development of offshore wind energy projects will generate wealth and job positions in the islands and will promote the internationalization of companies.