Canary Islands Group Challenges Primavera Offshore Wind Project Over Environmental Concerns

The Canary Islands' transition to renewable energy is facing new social and administrative challenges. The Ecomarca Platform, a group dedicated to protecting the southeast of the islands, has officially opposed the proposed Primavera offshore wind farm near the coasts of Granadilla de Abona and Arico. This move expands the group's efforts, which previously focused on challenging onshore wind projects in Güímar and Fasnia.

The controversy centers on whether this infrastructure—which includes a floating platform with two 11 MW turbines and a power grid—can coexist with the local marine ecosystem. During the public consultation period, the platform argued that the project lacks a technical justification that aligns with an updated maritime spatial plan. Opponents point out that the developers’ own environmental reports acknowledge risks to reefs and potential water quality issues. They also claim the assessment of the project's impact on local wildlife, such as whales, dolphins, turtles, and protected birds, is methodologically flawed.

Ecomarca is particularly concerned about the southern seagrass meadows, which are part of the protected Natura 2000 network. The platform argues that because the environmental impact study admits that further analysis is needed, the project currently lacks the technical rigor required for approval. This follows the group’s previous submission of a 157-page report, compiled by experts in archaeology, botany, and biology, to challenge onshore wind developments.

This conflict highlights the growing tension between the need for decarbonization and the protection of the archipelago’s underwater heritage. By calling for the project to be rejected, the platform is questioning not just the Primavera wind farm, but the broader energy planning process, demanding more transparency and scientific scrutiny to protect the fragile coastal environment of the Canary Islands.