Tenerife Solar Project Sparks Legal Clash Between Regional and Local Authorities

A conflict between renewable energy goals and local government control has flared up in southern Tenerife. As reported by Diario de Avisos, construction has begun on the Llano de los Bebederos I solar farm in Arona after the regional government stepped in to bypass local opposition.

The project, led by DISA Energía Renovables, represents a €2.56 million investment. It will feature 8,610 solar panels and the necessary infrastructure to feed electricity into the Chayofa substation. The site is located on rustic land near the South Hospital and the communities of Chayofa and Tinguafaya, sparking a legal battle over the limits of the Canary Islands Land Law.

The regional government cleared the way for construction by issuing a decree that declared the project to be of "general interest." This legal move allows the regional authorities to override local planning rules, a decision the Arona City Council strongly opposes. Mayor Fátima Lemes and Urban Planning chief Javier Baute argue that the plant violates the municipality’s development plan. They maintain that while clean energy is important, projects must still follow local land-use regulations.

The developer, DISA, defends the project by noting that the land has not been used for agriculture in 30 years. The company also points out that the solar farm is designed to sit more than 220 meters away from residential areas to minimize the impact on neighbors.

This situation highlights a recurring challenge across the Canary Islands: balancing the urgent need for decarbonization with the rights of local municipalities to manage their own land. While work is now underway, the debate continues over whether regional strategic goals should take precedence over local urban planning.