With an annual production of 160 MWh, this energy community supplies electricity to 103 families, a pharmacy, and a restaurant, helping them reduce their monthly energy bills. Additionally, part of this power is supplied to the Music School and the local police building, representing savings for the municipality itself. In total, it is estimated that participants in this pioneering project save around 16,000 euros per year collectively. While this amount per participant may seem modest, this is just the beginning of a project that, once fully operational, promises much greater benefits.
The economic benefits are not the only aims of the Adeje Verde project. The municipality aims not only to ease the financial burden on families but also to focus on sustainability and environmental friendliness. The annual production of 160 MWh prevents the emission of 80 tons of CO₂, equivalent to planting between 266 and 800 trees, depending on the estimate. This is comparable to the “Adeje Productive Forest” that the municipality has already established.
Warm Water Factored In
Thanks to Adeje’s abundant sunlight, the photovoltaic installation will, within a year, produce the energy required for the manufacture, installation, and eventual dismantling of the solar panels, achieving what’s known as “energy payback.” This means that the installation can continue generating electricity for at least another 30 years.
The mayor and project technical lead, Ricardo Guerrero, discussed the project’s progress, highlighting that the installation and technical development have largely been carried out by local labor and with local resources, contributing to the circular economy. The photovoltaic installation, mainly located on the roof of the Music School and other public buildings, covers an area of 800 square meters. A weather station and field cameras were also installed. The system is ready to heat water for future distribution in the area.
Kilowatt-Peak
The Adeje Verde project, a collaboration between the Adeje municipality and the University of La Laguna, was initiated with an agreement in 2019. Companies from the electricity sector, including local installers, are also involved.
To coordinate all this, the University of La Laguna encouraged the creation of the technology company EnergyRIS, a university spin-off. This company handles the technical and regulatory challenges of the project. Once it was determined feasible in late 2021, the Adeje Verde brand was established, and the company AV Green Europe, composed of local employees, was formed to promote collective self-consumption and recruit consumers for the initial 99 kWp (Kilowatt-Peak) installation on the Adeje Music School.
Future
After achieving the largest collective self-consumption on the islands, Adeje Verde has outlined a future plan, soon to be announced. Based on early experiences in Las Torres and obtained subsidies, the energy generated from these installations is expected to yield annual savings of 3.4 million euros for the residents and businesses of Adeje. Additionally, this will prevent nearly 10,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year. With battery storage, the energy can also be used during peak hours, generating extra savings and preventing the loss of generated energy due to a lack of demand or inefficient compensation by energy providers
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Energy in Adeje ©
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