Concerns raised over new 6,288-panel solar farm near Puerto del carmen

A proposed new solar farm containing 6,288 photovoltaic panels near Puerto del Carmen has been opposed by Tías Council over concerns about its potential impact on Lanzarote's landscape and agricultural land.

The project, known as Tías II, would be built in the Mácher area and have an installed generating capacity of approximately four megawatts.

The development represents an investment of around €2.3 million and would occupy more than 73,000 square metres of land.

Its proposed location is close to the road connecting Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero, placing the development between two important tourism areas on Lanzarote's southeast coast.

Tías Council has announced that it will challenge the plans during the public consultation process.

Council raises concerns over agricultural land

The local authority's principal objection centres on the classification and character of the land selected for the development.

The council argues that the solar farm would affect land with agricultural value and could have a huge visual impact on the surrounding landscape.

It has also questioned whether a development of this scale is appropriate for the proposed location.

The project would require thousands of photovoltaic modules to be installed across a substantial area of currently open land.

While renewable energy is central to efforts to reduce the Canary Islands' dependence on imported fossil fuels, the rapid expansion of solar installations has also generated debate about where large renewable-energy projects should be located.

Separate from previous Tías solar project

The latest proposal should not be confused with the separate Tías I photovoltaic project, which has previously generated opposition in the municipality.

Tías II is a distinct development involving a different proposed solar installation.

The new project is currently progressing through the required administrative process, including public consultation, meaning its construction has not yet been finally approved.

Tías Council intends to submit objections as part of that process.

Balancing renewable energy and landscape protection

Lanzarote faces a particular challenge when finding locations for large renewable-energy installations.

The island is seeking to increase clean-energy generation while simultaneously protecting a landscape that forms an important part of both its environmental identity and tourism appeal.

Large areas are subject to environmental, agricultural or planning protections, while development close to established communities and tourist areas can generate concerns over visual impact.

The debate surrounding Tías II therefore reflects a wider issue facing the Canary Islands: how to accelerate the transition towards renewable energy without unnecessarily sacrificing protected or valuable land.

With more than 6,000 panels proposed across 73,000 square metres, the Mácher development is now expected to face detailed scrutiny before a final decision is reached.