Tenerife delegation visits Azores to learn about geothermal development model
The delegation from Energía Geotérmica de Canarias during a visit to the Pico Vermelho geothermal power plant in Azores (source: Diario de Tenerife)
Carlo Cariaga
18 Sep 2025
A delegation from Energía Geotérmica de Canarias visited the Azores to learn about the islands' geothermal development model and adapt learnings for Tenerife.
A delegation from Energía Geotérmica de Canarias (EGC) traveled to the island of São Miguel, in the Azores, to gain firsthand knowledge on the archipelago’s geothermal development model and how it can be adapted to geothermal plans in Tenerife.
The highlight of the trip was the visit to the 10-MW Pico Vermelho geothermal power plant, owned and operated by EDA Renováveis. Together with the Ribeira power plant, geothermal supplies about 33% of the renewable energy production in the island. Efforts are also underway to expand the capacities of both facilities, with the target of increasing renewable energy contribution to 53% by 2027 from the current 21%.
The meeting included a technical presentation by EDA Renováveis, which addressed the geothermal experience in the Azores, led by António Luis Peixoto. The presentation reviewed the history of geothermal development in the Portuguese archipelago, the potential for generating this energy source in the region, and its associated socioeconomic and environmental benefits.
Adapting learnings in island systems
EGC is a public-private consortium that is seeking to start geothermal development in the island of Tenerife. The members of the consortium include Icelandic company Reykjavík Geothermal, energy company DISA, and the government of Tenerife through the public companies Technological Institute and Renewable Energies (Instituto Tecnológico y Energías Renovables / ITER) and the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan). According to previous announcements, EGC is targeting the start of drilling of a geothermal exploration well in Tenerife before the end of 2025.
DISA Energía ‘s director , Santiago Rull , remarked on the similarities between Azores and the Canary Islands: “the Azores are an ultraperipheral region, like the Canary Islands, that is very advanced from an energy perspective because they have been using this type of renewable energy for more than 45 years. It’s a solution that, given the nature of our archipelago, must be part of our energy mix.”
“The Canary Islands are immersed in the process of exploring and thoroughly investigating all aspects related to systems for harnessing this type of energy. We want to have the information to disseminate its benefits to the public, and we want them to be able to see examples like the one in the Azores with all the safety guarantees,” added Julieta Schallenberg, Deputy Minister for Ecological Transition, the Fight against Climate Change, and Energy of the Canary Islands Government.
ITER Director Carlos Suarez further emphasized that the visit was strategic, as it gave the delegation an insight on the impact that geothermal can have on an island region like the Azores, as well all the advantages geothermal can offer to electricity generation in an island system.
The possibility of using this energy in Tenerife and the Canary Islands means reducing production costs, which currently hover around €300 per MWh. This could translate into up to a 30% reduction in bills. The use of geothermal also puts the Canary Islands on the path of meeting the goals set by the Climate Change and Ecological Transition Law, which sets the islands’ decarbonization target at 90% by 2040.
Source: Diario de Tenerife
