Spain-Canary Islands

El Hierro, According to the Ministry for Industry, El Hierro will become the first island in the world to be energy self-sufficient. This will be achieved through a project combining a greater than 11 megawatt wind farm and two hydroelectric projects. The project, created by the local Gorona del Viento El Hierro consortium, will producing 11.5 megawatts of wind power to supply electricity for approximately 11,000 residents and three water desalination facilities. The hybrid wind/pumped hydro storage system will store surplus wind power by pumping water up 700 meters to fill the crater of an extinct volcano. When winds are calm or when demand exceeds supply, water will be released from the crater to generate 11.3 MW of electricity, filling an artificial basin created at the bottom of the extinct volcano. Water in the lower basin is then pumped back up again to the upper reservoir when there is excess wind power. Nicknamed Isla del Meridiano (the "Meridian Island"), is the smallest and farthest south and west of the Canary islands.

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Contained in galleries: Canary Islands-El Hierro, the last island

El Hierro, According to the Ministry for Industry, El Hierro will become the first island in the world to be energy self-sufficient. This will be achieved through a project combining a greater than 11 megawatt wind farm and two hydroelectric projects. The project, created by the local Gorona del Viento El Hierro consortium, will producing 11.5 megawatts of wind power to supply electricity for approximately 11,000 residents and three water desalination facilities. The hybrid wind/pumped hydro storage system will store surplus wind power by pumping water up 700 meters to fill the crater of an extinct volcano. When winds are calm or when demand exceeds supply, water will be released from the crater to generate 11.3 MW of electricity, filling an artificial basin created at the bottom of the extinct volcano. Water in the lower basin is then pumped back up again to the upper reservoir when there is excess wind power. Nicknamed Isla del Meridiano (the "Meridian Island"), is the smallest and farthest south and west of the Canary islands.