The Canary Islands have taken another step towards more sustainable transport infrastructure with the installation of a 306-panel solar energy system at El Bicho Tunnel in Santiago del Teide, Tenerife. The new photovoltaic installation is expected to reduce the tunnel’s electricity bill by around €35,000 per year while generating clean energy to power part of its operations.
The project, unveiled this week by the Canary Islands Government, is the first renewable energy installation to be directly integrated into road infrastructure anywhere in the archipelago.
Clean Energy for a Key Tenerife Tunnel
The solar array has been installed across both entrances to El Bicho Tunnel, with 126 panels at the northern portal and 180 panels at the southern entrance. The system is expected to become operational in the coming weeks.
Once fully operational, the installation will generate renewable electricity to supply part of the tunnel’s lighting, safety and operating systems, helping reduce its dependence on the conventional electricity grid.
Speaking during the presentation, Pablo Rodríguez, Canary Islands Minister for Public Works, Housing and Mobility, described the initiative as an important milestone.
“This is a path with no turning back,” he said, highlighting the government’s commitment to incorporating renewable energy into the region’s transport infrastructure.
First of Several Renewable Road Projects
According to Rosana Melián, Director General of Road Infrastructure, El Bicho represents a pioneering project that forms part of a wider strategy to make the Canary Islands’ road network more sustainable through improved energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
The project is included within the Green Strategy for Road Infrastructure in the Canary Islands, developed by the regional government with support from the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC).
Alongside El Bicho, renewable energy systems are also being installed at:
- La Cumbre Tunnel (La Palma)
- Pino Seco Tunnel (Gran Canaria)
- Butihondo Junction (Fuerteventura)
Together, these projects represent a combined investment of €1.3 million.
Investment of More Than €274,000
The El Bicho installation alone involved an investment of €274,094 and was carried out by Tragsa, with technical assistance from Mas 24 Ingeniería & Arquitectura.
The self-consumption photovoltaic system has been designed to meet a significant proportion of the tunnel’s energy demand, reducing operating costs while supporting the Canary Islands’ long-term sustainability goals.