Little by little, almost in dribs and drabs, the commitment to the use of renewable energy is taking hold on Ibiza. According to data from the Balearic Ministry of Energy Transition in the third quarter of this year, Ibiza has reached 9MW of power from solar panels installed for self-consumption, both in homes, businesses and others, which represents an increase of 11% compared to the second quarter (8.1 MW) and 30% compared to the first quarter, which was 6.9 MW. “It is not exponential growth, but it is quite important. Ibiza is adopting a higher and better speed than it had”, assures the general director of Energy and Climate Change, Pep Malagrava.

El vicepresidente Yllanes, a la derecha, en el parque fotovoltaico de Bosc d’en Lleó. | CAIB Vice President Yllanes, on the right, at the Bosc d’en Lleó photovoltaic park. | CAIB

Precisely, the Vice President and Minister of Energy Transition, Juan Pedro Yllanes, recalls from the presentation of the first quarter data, that it was necessary to make a greater effort on Ibiza and Formentera because “the penetration of renewables, although it has increased in recent years, can be improved and more if we want to meet the objectives set by the Balearic law on climate change and the European Union“. “It is not a matter of will, but of necessity,” he added.

According to data from the second quarter, Ibiza’s self-consumption renewable energy capacity represented only 12.7% of the archipelago as a whole and was behind Menorca, which, with 8.8 MW, represented almost 14% of the Balearic Islands’ total. Ibiza has 56,000 inhabitants more than Menorca, according to the population census, so, according to Malagrava, it would correspond “to occupy the second place” of the Autonomous Community in terms of clean energy consumption, and not the third.

Renewable energy: From 580 to 832 installations

Another significant fact is the increase of 43.4% in 6 months in the number of self-consumption renewable energy installations registered on Ibiza, which goes from 580 in the first quarter of this year to 832 in the third quarter. In total, according to data from the end of September, Ibiza has 659 installations of self-consumption solar panels by individuals with a power of 3.5 MW, and 140 (4.2 MW) by companies to which 33 (1.3MW) others are added.

For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.