What's actually being built

In the Barranco de Mogán, in the Las Burrillas area, just off the GC-200 road, the new substation is to be built. It's a modern gas-insulated facility with a double system (GIS technology with double busbar). Cost: 3.9 million euros.

Plus a 66-kilovolt line with two parallel circuits. It connects the new facility to the existing Arguineguín-Santa Águeda network. Length: 11.89 kilometres, of which 11.72 are above ground and 176 metres underground. The line runs over 26 pylons.

Cost: 4.3 million euros. Plus a third structure for auxiliary installations at 143,000 euros. That makes 8.3 million euros total.

Why now

The south of Gran Canaria is the island's economic engine. Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Puerto Rico, Mogán with their tourism are all here. Power is needed — air conditioning, hotel pools, restaurants. And demand has risen sharply in recent years.

At the same time, more and more wind and solar plants are coming online. These renewables need a flexible distribution grid that can adapt. Old structures aren't enough anymore.

What changes for tourists

Directly: nothing. You won't notice the construction during your holiday. The work is largely happening away from the tourist zones, in the mountains and ravines between Arguineguín and Mogán. Indirectly: power reliability in the south will improve.

Once the facility is operational, expected by 2027/28, blackouts should become rarer — especially during heatwaves when air conditioning runs flat out.

The downside: expropriations

To build pylons and lines, land is needed. Red Eléctrica has applied for a "declaration of public utility". This allows it to claim private land and public paths. Affected are large landowners such as Puerto Rico SA, SA Investaurito, and Unión Guanche Catalana.

The Cabildo de Gran Canaria also loses some control over riverbeds in the Mogán, Tauro, and El Cura ravines. The Mogán municipality has to release public paths. Owners have 30 days to file objections — against the routing, not against the project itself.

What happens next

The public consultation phase is now under way. 30 days for any affected person to file objections. After that, the Dirección General de Energía will decide. Once all approvals are in place, construction will begin. The schedule envisages two to three years of construction. The facility should be operational by 2028.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the project cost in total?
8.3 million euros total: 3.9 million for the substation, 4.3 million for the line, and 143,000 euros for auxiliary installations.
Where exactly is it being built?
The substation is in the Barranco de Mogán, Las Burrillas area, alongside the GC-200. The line runs 11.89 km between Arguineguín and Mogán.
What does "double busbar" mean?
A duplicated switchgear setup. If one system fails, the other takes over. This makes power supply more reliable.
When will it go online?
Expected 2027 or 2028, once all construction work and approvals are complete.
Will tourists notice the construction?
Not during a holiday. Work happens far from beach zones, in the mountains between Arguineguín and Mogán.