• The 15th edition of this professional trade fair is being held at the Agüimes Trade Fair Centre, with the aim of “strengthening a partnership that is now absolutely inseparable: energy sovereignty and water security”
• More than one hundred professional meetings, around twenty short presentations and a broad programme of talks and round tables complete this year’s event, which brings together more than 60 exhibiting companies

The 15th edition of Canagua y Energía opened today with the aim of positioning the Canary Islands as a reference point for the energy transition and sustainability. Over two days, professionals and companies from the energy and water sectors will have the opportunity to discover the latest trends, products and services, while taking part in meetings designed to generate new opportunities for collaboration and business.

“Canagua y Energía is a commitment to strengthening a partnership that is now absolutely inseparable: water and energy, energy sovereignty and water security in Gran Canaria,” said Antonio Morales, President of the Gran Canaria Island Council. He added that “we are facing profound transformations across the planet, from climate change to geostrategic developments in the Arctic, the Middle East and the mid-Atlantic, which mean that we must make a firm commitment to greater self-sufficiency in these two key areas that condition our survival.”

Morales stressed that “only by working together will we achieve cutting-edge technological solutions, promoting energy that reduces costs and fuel imports, while developing new approaches focused on efficiency and savings in desalination and wastewater treatment, as well as advancing other forms of energy generation for Gran Canaria.” Before visiting the stands of the more than 60 exhibiting companies taking part in this edition, he also highlighted the progress made by Gran Canaria in terms of energy sovereignty.

Throughout the morning, professionals exchanged knowledge on the latest solutions while taking part in more than one hundred business meetings across the venue. At the same time, companies presented their services through dynamic 15-minute sessions at the Speakers’ Corner, while a series of conferences and round tables took place in the technical programme area.

The day began with a presentation by Antonio Sánchez, Principal Consultant in the energy sector at Wood Mackenzie, on storage, flexibility and the regulatory framework needed to accelerate the energy transition across the five island subsystems, where there is still “a very significant presence of fossil-fuel generation”. As he explained, thermal generation in the Canary Islands produces seven times more CO₂ emissions than the mainland system, with an additional cost of €1.4 billion. Although solar and wind energy have costs of between €40 and €100/MWh, “well below the variable cost of thermal generation”, Sánchez noted that the high costs associated with thermal power in the Canary Islands also represent “an opportunity for renewables”.

The programme continued with a presentation by Francisco Javier Hernández, from LONGi Iberia, on energy solutions and modules adapted to island environments. These included solar panels using Back Contact technology, which offers “fewer failures, lower degradation and high efficiency”, and which LONGi has succeeded in bringing “to large-scale, reliable and competitive production”.

Hernández also presented a range of modules designed for specific situations requiring specialised solutions, including hail-resistant panels, coloured panels, lighter modules for structurally weaker roofs, transparent modules and anti-glare systems. For island environments in particular, he highlighted three models: anti-dust modules, which facilitate self-cleaning and reduce dirt accumulation; fire-resistant panels; and marine-protection modules designed to prevent corrosion.

Both experts later took part in a round table on the integration of renewable energy in island territories, joined by Blanca García, from SMA, and Andrés Franco, CEO of Isigenere. Participants agreed on the need for faster administrative procedures, noting that “we already have manufacturers, installers and other resources, but the main obstacle and bottleneck lies in the administrative process”.

The speakers also agreed on the need to accelerate the integration of renewable energy in the Canary Islands, a territory with a high number of sunshine hours as well as significant wind and marine resources. They also highlighted the importance of storage using Grid Forming technology, which enables large-scale energy storage and has already been tested, with the archipelago offering suitable conditions for its further development.

The round table also explored opportunities linked to water-based solar technology, specifically floating photovoltaic installations on reservoirs and water basins rather than at sea. This is now a mature technology with several advantages: it reduces water evaporation, limits algae growth by reducing direct sunlight on the water surface and can also lower maintenance requirements.

The technical programme will continue tomorrow, with much of the day focused on water-related issues. Topics will include the use of smart energy management to transform grids, buildings and territories, as well as the strategic potential of floating photovoltaic systems in island environments.

The programme will also address cybersecurity and the protection of critical water infrastructure, including an analysis of the NIS2 framework, operational risks and the current situation in the Canary Islands, followed by a round table with representatives from public administrations, companies and specialist organisations.

In the afternoon, attention will turn to water reuse and its adaptation to Royal Decree 1085/2024, risk management plans for reclaimed water and the challenges involved in implementing them in island territories.

Canagua y Energía is promoted by the Gran Canaria Island Council, through the Gran Canaria Island Energy Council and the Gran Canaria Island Water Council, and organised by Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria. It also has Cajasiete as official collaborator and the support of the Agüimes Town Council.

Canaragua and Green Efficient support this year’s fair as Platinum Sponsors of the technical programme; Aqualia and LONGi Solar are Gold Sponsors of the Speakers’ Corner and the B2B area respectively, while Redstack is a Silver Sponsor.