Geothermal power generation to be explored in Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Timanfaya National Park (source: Sascha Schmidt / flickr, creative commons)
Carlo Cariaga
26 Apr 2022
The University of Navarra will be working with the Canary Islands government to design and install a thermoelectric generator at the Timanfaya National Park.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Canary Islands, in collaboration with the Public University of Navarra, is planning to explore the possibility of generating geothermal power for the facilities in the Timanfaya National Park on the island of Lanzarote. The feasibility study will be done over the next six months.
The 134 Thermal and Fluid Engineering Research Group at the University of Navarra is in task of the design, construction, and installation of a 0.5 kW thermoelectric generator on the Hilario Islet. The goal is for the generator to supply 12 kWh of renewable power daily to the Timanfaya National Park.
Unlike conventional geothermal power facilities that use steam turbines, thermoelectric generators work without any moving parts. These are solid-state devices that can create a voltage potential using a temperature difference across a semiconductor. Thermoelectric generators are compact, highly robust, and appropriate for low-capacity power production.
Part of the contract with the University of Navarra is the possible expansion of the project once the viability of the prototypes have been confirmed.
“In this way, Timanfaya will contribute to having the necessary technical knowledge so that, in the future, Lanzarote can obtain clean, emission-free and constant electrical energy in all those areas of the island where this type of geothermal anomaly may exist,” said Regional Minister Jose Antonio Valbuena.
In 2021, an event organized by the Illustrious Official College of Geologists became a platform for technical experts to identify the Canary Islands as “the ideal territory to develop geothermal energy in Spain” as we reported.
Source: El Diario and and Motor.es
