• The Canagua y Energía Awards Conclude Their First Edition During the Energy and Water Night

The Canagua y Energía Awards concluded their first edition during the Energy and Water Night celebration, held at the Palacio de Congresos Gran Canaria in Infecar. Promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria through the Island Energy Council of Gran Canaria (CIEGC) and the Island Water Council of Gran Canaria (CIAGC), these awards were created to highlight initiatives that have significantly promoted progress in these two essential sectors, with a total of eight recognitions awarded.

This first edition aligns with the policy of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria to follow the Agenda 2030 and the Ecoisla strategy, as highlighted by its president, Antonio Morales, in his speech: “For decades, we have worked to establish ourselves as a model of sustainability and resilience, and today, the Ecoisla project we lead is much more than a vision: it is a reality in progress.”

He also reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to sustainability: “We want Gran Canaria to be an island that generates more clean energy than it consumes.” He emphasized that the Canagua y Energía International Fair is “much more than a sectoral fair—it is a space for the exchange of ideas, the creation of partnerships, and the joint construction of solutions.” Regarding the awards, he described them as “a tribute to the individuals and entities that, from various fields, work tirelessly to advance the sustainability of water and energy on our island,” stressing the importance of “joint efforts among public institutions, the private sector, academia, and citizens” to tackle this challenge.

Sustainability and Water

In the Sustainability and Water category, led by the Island Water Council of Gran Canaria (CIAGC) to recognize outstanding initiatives in the management, conservation, and sustainable use of water, four awards were presented:

The León y Castillo House Museum, dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of the León y Castillo brothers, was recognized in the category Social and Collective Initiative in the Field of Water for its commitment to preserving, protecting, and disseminating Gran Canaria’s unique water culture. Agragua, S.A., a company focused on seawater desalination for agricultural use, was awarded in the category Business Initiative in the Water Sector for its participatory association model, ensuring sustainable water resources for the local primary sector.

Fernando Andrés Ojeda Pérez, an industrial engineer with extensive experience in the water sector, particularly in desalination and the water-energy nexus, was awarded in the category Professional Career in the Field of Water for his contribution to water management in Gran Canaria and his efforts to preserve the island’s historical water heritage.

In the category Academic Work in the Field of Water, Alicia Medina Galván shared the recognition for her thesis Application of Nanomaterials in Water Treatment Disinfection Processes and Nikole Andrea Bunster Pérez for her master’s project Design and Control of a Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Plant for Agricultural Use.

Sustainability and Energy

The Island Energy Council of Gran Canaria (CIEGC) led the Sustainability and Energy category, awarding four prizes to recognize innovation, sustainable practices, and efficient resource management in the energy sector:

MacroCarbon S.L., a pioneering marine biotechnology company cultivating macroalgae for sustainable biofuel production, won in the category Social and Collective Initiative in the Energy Sector for its innovative approach to reducing external energy dependence and positioning the Canary Islands as a leader in sustainable energy transition. Tirma, S.A., a Canarian food industry company, was awarded in the category Business Initiative in the Energy Sector for its commitment to sustainability, achieving significant carbon footprint reduction through its photovoltaic plant and adopting innovative measures such as eco-friendly packaging design.

Roque Alejandro Calero Pérez, an industrial engineer and professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, was awarded in the category Professional Career in the Energy Sector for his leadership in promoting sustainable development in the Canary Islands, with over 70 innovative projects, 11 patents, 40 books, and 60 articles published. In the category Academic Work in the Energy Field, the recognition went to Abraham José Quintana Infante for his hydrogen-based project Design and Modeling of an Energy Self-Sufficient Microgrid and Jaime Hernández Leal for his Study on Photovoltaic Potential at the Port of Las Palmas.

This first edition of the Canagua y Energía Awards is part of the activities of the 14th edition of the Canagua y Energía International Fair.