14 DAY TRIAL // The island of El Hierro, otherwise known as Isla del Meridiano, is about to teach the rest of the world a thing or two about sustainability and being environmentally friendly. Thus, this island will soon have its energy demands met entirely by clean sources.
For those unaware, the island of El Hierro sits in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Africa. It is the smallest and farthest south and west of Spain's Canary Islands, and its population comprises a little over 10,000 people.
Media reports say that, in order to become self-sufficient energy-wise, this island in the Atlantic Ocean has turned its attention towards harvesting the power potential of wind and water.
Thus, Think Progress tells us that, sometime next month, El Hierro is to cut the ribbon on a wind farm made up of five turbines whose energy generating capacity will be one of 11.5 megawatts.
It is expected that the farm's output will suffice to meet the energy demand of both the island's entire population and of the desalination plants that this patch of land currently accommodates for, the same source tells us.
Given the fact that wind power is not what some might call a reliable energy source, El Hierro has also turned its attention towards harvesting the energy potential of water. This other clean energy source is expected to step in and meet demands when local winds are fairly weak.
Information shared with the public says that, when wind power is abundant, some of it will be used to pump water into a reservoir that sits about 2,300 feet (about 700 meters) above sea level. When circumstances ask for it, this water will be released and used to generate electricity.
Just in case it one day happens that wind and water fail to provide the island with the power it needs, El Hierro is to maintain an oil power station. However, this facility will only be put to use in extreme conditions.
It is estimated that, by becoming self-sufficient energy-wise and having all of its power demand met by renewables, the island will manage to cut its annual carbon emissions by as much as 20,600 tons and also avoid having to burn about 40,000 barrels of oil on a yearly basis.
Despite the fact that several other regions across the world have recently taken a keen interest in harvesting renewables in order to improve on their ecological footprint and reduce energy costs, it is believed that the island of El Hierro is the first in the world to use renewables to become energy-independent.