The island of El Hierro in Spain won the second place of the RESponsible Island Prize 2020 thanks to its nomination entitled “El Hierro 100 RES - El Hierro: Towards a 100% Renewable Energy Island”. The island owes this victory to the share of renewable energy produced by innovative energy technologies, sustainability and environmental and socio-economic impact, al involvement of the community and citizens and the replicability of the implemented solutions.
With the start-up of the combined El Hierro wind power plant, i renewable energy levels have progressively increased, reaching an average percentage of almost 60% of electricity produced from renewable sources. In addition, the island has achieved the record of supplying 100% renewable electricity for 25 consecutive days with consequent significant economic and environmental benefits. A pioneering result for an off-grid energy system not connected to the European electricity grid.
Thanks to these innovations, the island of El Hierro was able to stop the use of an average of 7.000 tons of diesel per year, thus avoiding the emission of 18.700 tons of CO into the atmosphere.2 the year.
The innovative energy plants are mostly owned by the Gorona del Viento island government, which promotes their positive impact on the community and citizens. Gorona del Viento offers free electricity for electric vehicles through several charging points distributed on the island. As part of its sustainable mobility plan, the island aims to completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity for the mobility of its inhabitants.