Adeje Plans 15MW Battery Storage, Faces Planning Review

For island electricity systems like the Canary Islands, large battery storage systems are key to both reducing carbon emissions and ensuring a steady power supply. In Adeje, a new battery system is planned. It will have a power of 15 megawatts (MW) and a capacity of 60 megawatt-hours (MWh). This means it could power 6,000 to 8,000 homes for about four hours, according to the project's plans.

These battery systems are vital for managing the electricity grid. They allow power, especially from renewable sources like solar or wind that don't always generate electricity steadily, to be stored when there's too much and then released when more is needed or when the system is out of balance. They also help prevent power cuts and can provide instant backup during times of high demand or if there's a problem with power generation.

The project, called Los Olivos BESS 1, will be built on Barranco del Burro street, on land zoned for industrial and services use. Merak Storage 5 SL is behind this initiative, which is expected to cost 8.9 million euros and take twelve months to complete. It will connect to the island's power grid through a 20-kilovolt (kV) underground cable, leading to the Los Olivos electrical substation.

The facility will include about a hundred modular containers. These will hold the batteries, inverters, power transformers, and control systems. There will also be a technical building and two more smaller, pre-assembled power transformers.

However, the project faces a potential problem with local planning rules. Even though Adeje's General Urban Planning Plan classifies the land as Industrial and Services (S9-4), a council report points out that because it's a 'frontline' location, the preferred uses are for services (like shops or offices). This means a legal review of the rules is needed to see if energy storage, which is considered an industrial use, fits with the specific planning guidelines for this particular area.