Today, Tuesday, 24th September, the Teide Cable Car inaugurated its facilities in the Cañadas del Teide National Park, unveiling a propulsion system for its cabins powered by photovoltaic solar energy. This innovation results in a complete reduction of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, marking a significant shift for the future of the funicular industry worldwide. Consequently, the Teide Cable Car now represents the first installation globally that operates independently from the grid, utilising solar energy.
The introduction of this system at the Teide cable car signifies the total elimination of the carbon footprint associated with this infrastructure, reinforcing the island of Tenerife’s status as an increasingly sustainable tourist destination, where the enjoyment of natural landscapes is paired with the protection and stewardship of the environment.
The system implemented by Teleférico del Teide leverages the latest technological advancements and incorporates the ability to store and distribute energy throughout the entire facility.
This energy storage system for the funiculars utilises a method that combines photovoltaic panels and batteries engineered by Swiss, German, and Spanish experts. By harnessing sunlight and the gravitational force of the cabins as they descend, a consistent and reliable electrical supply is guaranteed to ensure the operational continuity of the current cable car services, effectively eliminating harmful gas emissions. The engine that previously generated electricity will now serve solely as a backup for emergencies or unforeseen needs.
Regarding this notable investment project focused on sustainability in a highly regarded protected area in Spain, the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, remarked during the inauguration ceremony of the new photovoltaic installation that this initiative “positions Tenerife on the forefront globally within a national park, featuring a one hundred percent sustainable system powered by solar energy, and represents a significant advancement towards the reduction of greenhouse gases.” Dávila emphasised that “today is an exceptionally important day for Teide and Tenerife; the gaze of the global technological community is keenly observing this pioneering example we have set on the journey towards an eco-sustainable island.”
The most significant investment in the history of the Cable Car
This new facility for the production of renewable, clean energy constitutes one of the most notable investments undertaken by Teleférico del Teide throughout its history, amounting to two million euros, principally financed through its own resources supplemented by a smaller portion from the EU’s Next Generation funds.
Numerous challenges had to be addressed by the engineers to discover the appropriate technological solution that would enable the Teide cable car to operate solely on renewable energy. It stands as one of the few systems globally that is electrically autonomous, meaning it is not connected to public or conventional power networks, as there are no power lines within the National Park. It has become self-sufficient by generating entirely clean energy through solar panels situated in existing facilities without the need for additional land use in the National Park.
A process tailored to function in extreme conditions
The climatic conditions within the Teide National Park are extreme, with significant variations in temperature and atmospheric pressure affecting the materials and equipment at an altitude of 2,356 metres, nearly at the summit of Spain.
To these climatic challenges, the additional complexity of integrating such an intricate system installation without disrupting the routine operation of the cabins was also confronted.
The new energy management system for the movement of the cabins, termed the ESFOR system, has been developed by one of the leading companies in this field, the Austrian Doppelmayr group, which includes the Swiss firm Frey AG. The isolated network of facilities, known as a microgrid, has been designed by the Canarian innovation and technology company R7, with storage technology from Cegasa (Spain) and equipment from Riello (Italy).