The island of El Hierro may seem an unlikely candidate to be a world leader in energy self-sufficiency. The most remote of the Canaries was once completely dependent on outside sources for its energy needs, with an economy held up almost entirely by agriculture and tourism.
But thanks to the Gorona del Viento wind and water plant, the island now saves over 7,000 tons of diesel fuel and avoids more than 24,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year – with greater savings planned when it incorporates solar energy into the plant by 2050.
Why We Wrote This
Deploying new renewable energy technology is critical for energy conservation. But just as important is getting communities to embrace its adoption at the grassroots level, as the island of El Hierro has.