After knowing the way Iceland dominates its volcanoes, Spain plans to harness the energy of volcano put the country in tension some time ago. Between September and December 2021, The palmone of the 8 Canary Islandslived a strong experience of volcanic origin with the eruption of a new one volcano. Located in the Cumbre Vieja Natural Parkgot the official name of Tajogaitic volcano by the area in which it originated. On the outside, the 200-meter-long cone was preserved, reminiscent of the houses consumed by lava flows.
A few months ago the interior of the island of La Palma He moved again. The activity of one of the volcanoes once again put experts on edge because of the potential risks it could pose. However, this also offers an optimal opportunity to benefit from the geothermal energy that can be extracted from the boiler. This scenario would result in the extraction of a renewable resource with significant potential for the future.
He Tajogaitic volcano represents a challenge for the island’s residents, but also holds promise for the energy sustainability of Spain. Scientists and authorities remain alert to the seismic movements and the gas emissions it generates. They believe that there are opportunities to use the heat from the subsurface to produce geothermal energy, which uses the internal heat of the ground. Tierra.
Spain could use the La Palma volcano to extract geothermal energy
It should be noted that the geothermal energy It is a renewable solution that could change the way we obtain electricity and heat. The island of La Palma It houses significant reserves of warm water underground. Under these circumstances, a study published by the journal shows Scientific reports intercepted a reservoir of geothermal heat under the Tajogaitic volcano. These hydrothermal reserves had an impact on seismicity prior to the eruption Tajogaite on September 19, 2021.
He Ministry for the Ecological Transition raised 60 million euros in feasibility analysis for geothermal extraction Canary Islands. In The palmIn concrete terms, it could be extracted without damaging the natural balance. The University of La Laguna and the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain They designed a project called SAGE4CAN to study its extraction shallow geothermal energy.
Instead of taking it from the depths of the earth Tierrathe shallow geothermal energy It uses the heat stored in the first meters of the subsurface, which is usually about 100 meters deep, to air-condition buildings and generate hot water.
SAGE4CAN The aim is to obtain information about how much energy can be extracted from the Earth in this way Tajogaitic volcano. A plan as simple and efficient as this could be the key to decarbonizing the air conditioning sector in countries like these The palmwhere solar energy does not always meet demand.
Spain is committed to shallow geothermal energy, a type of energy that comes from its most famous volcano
The shallow geothermal energy It not only offers the opportunity to post Canary Islands in a privileged position with regard to the energy efficiency and renewable objectives of the EU. It also makes it possible to remain at the forefront of energy innovation. Although its potential is great, geothermal energy deployment faces several challenges. One of the most important is the initial investment required to conduct surveys and preparatory studies that conclude the viability of the project.
In this way the volcano that remained in tension Spain Years after the high-profile outburst, it remains something to talk about. It proposes a panorama similar to the one intended to be implemented in the most feared volcano in the world.