Spanish Island Becomes First To Be Powered Solely On Wind, Water
The inconsistencies associated with wind power can pose problems, even on the notoriously breezy Canaries. Power failures could be damaging for the island's tourism industry efforts, but El Hierro has tackled this issue with an ingenious closed-loop wind/hydroelectric system.
Excess power from the five wind turbines will be used to pump water to a reservoir in the crater of a nonactive volcano. When winds are calm, this water will be released, flowing downhill through hydroelectric turbines. This way, excess wind power can be saved without the need for batteries.
Though the systems have already been heavily tested, the island does have an emergency reserve of fuel to protect against unforeseen problems. Even so, Hierro continues to plan for more sustainable moves in the near future. The island's authorities have entered into an agreement with Nissan to replace all of El Hierro's vehicles with electric cars in the next six years.
Loren