In a groundbreaking move, the Teide Cable Car, located in Tenerife’s iconic Teide National Park, has become the world’s first fully solar-powered cable car system. After 53 years in operation, this pioneering achievement marks a revolutionary step in the evolution of sustainable tourism.
The innovation lies in an intelligent energy management system, housed in a central control room, that efficiently distributes solar energy to power the cable cars and other facilities.
The system is backed by 525 photovoltaic panels, supported by more than 20 batteries that store solar energy, including electricity generated by the cable cars during their descent. This breakthrough technology is expected to save an incredible 618 metric tons of CO2 emissions a year.
The historic switch was celebrated by prominent Canary Islands figures, including Tenerife’s Cabildo President Rosa Dávila, Teide Cable Car Managing Director Ignacio Sabaté, and the Canary Islands’ Director of Ecological Transition, Ángel Montañés. The event emphasised the pivotal role tourism and technological innovation have played in the Canary Islands' development since the 1960s.
Sabaté reflected on how the rise of tourism and the advent of jet travel connected the Canary Islands to Europe, transforming the local economy. He credited the visionaries behind the original cable car project for recognising the potential of combining tourism with environmental enjoyment, made possible by the contribution of many locals.
However, he stressed that today's focus must be on sustainability, outlining several initiatives such as collective transport access to the park, a commitment to using local products, and collaboration with scientific institutions on climate research.
One of the major challenges in developing the solar system, explained Teide Cable Car’s Technical Director Luis Pintor, was the isolation of the national park, which has no direct access to the island's electrical grid. The extreme winter conditions at the high-altitude site also posed difficulties, but the installation of solar panels last year successfully endured these challenges, proving their resilience.
The switch to solar power is part of the Canary Islands’ broader effort to decarbonise its economy. Montañés hailed this achievement as a significant milestone in environmental innovation, showcasing the leadership of local businesses in driving the project forward.
In closing the ceremony, Rosa Dávila declared the day not just a momentous occasion for Tenerife, but for the world. "This is a decisive step in transforming a first-class infrastructure, protecting our natural surroundings, and demonstrating Tenerife's commitment to sustainability."
As the old system was powered down and the new 100% solar-powered system took over, the Teide Cable Car entered a new era, setting an inspiring precedent for the future of eco-tourism worldwide.
