With an area of 268,71 km², it is the smallest of the Canary archipelago, located west of the North African coast, in the Atlantic Ocean. Since 2000 it has been recognized by UNESCO as "Biosphere reserve". The island boasts a world record: it is the first island in the world to have achieved the double water autonomy ed energy thanks to an integrated system based on inexhaustible sources. The 10.500 inhabitants, in fact, use a system of 11,3 MW hydroelectric plants and wind farms with 5 turbines for a total of 11,5 MW for the production of electricity, integrated together. The operation involves the passage of water with the consequent activation of hydraulic turbines, such as to generate electricity, driven thanks to the energy produced by wind turbines powered continuously by the trade winds always present on the Canary Islands.
With regard to the mobility sectors, the islanders have decided to make the entire fleet of cars (around 6000) electric within ten years. The plan is based on a financial engineering operation: the municipality will borrow the sum for the purchase of the electric vehicles, which will be sold at a low purchase cost, because the mobile batteries will remain the property of the electricity system. The four petrol filling stations will be converted into electric accumulators and motorists will pay a weekly fee of around 12 euros to recharge the batteries. In about 7 years this cash flow will pay off the loan for the purchase of cars and the adjustment of the system.