Tenerife’s Tigaiga Power Project Faces Scrutiny Over Safety and Viability Concerns
The proposed Tigaiga emergency power plant in Tenerife faces mounting criticism from experts who warn of significant safety risks, technical flaws, and a lack of consideration for sustainable alternatives.
The Tigaiga project, a proposed emergency power plant in Los Realejos, Tenerife, is facing intense scrutiny over its safety and technical viability. A review by the group Salto a la Transición Energética claims the project’s massive administrative file is missing key information and ignores significant industrial risks, arguing that the Canary Islands government should pause before granting final approval.
Backed by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the project aims to install eight gas-powered engines at the La Gañanía industrial estate to provide backup power for the island’s grid. The project has already moved locations several times due to strong local opposition. While regional authorities argue the plant is a necessary, temporary fix for power shortages, experts warn that its proximity to residential areas demands a much stricter safety assessment.
The technical report highlights a lack of detailed studies on the potential impact of industrial accidents. Specifically, it notes that the project fails to clearly define the risks of explosions, fires, or "domino effect" accidents involving the plant’s 171 tons of liquefied petroleum gas.
The analysis also questions the plant's reliability. Because the facility relies on fuel being trucked in from Granadilla, experts worry that bad weather or traffic could cut off the fuel supply during an emergency. Furthermore, the report argues that the proposal fails to consider modern, cleaner alternatives—such as large-scale battery storage or better grid management—that could stabilize the power supply without the risks of burning fossil fuels.
Finally, engineers have raised concerns about the plant’s ability to actually restore power after a total grid failure, noting that the current plans do not clearly explain how the engines would restart the system from scratch. With 28 million euros of investment at stake, the debate continues over whether this plant is the right solution for Tenerife’s energy needs or if safer, more sustainable options have been overlooked.