Huge row over government proposal for Accelerated Renewables Zones on Lanzarote

A huge row continues on Lanzarote concerning the Canarian Government’s proposals for Accelerated Renewables Zones (ZARs) on the island.

In July 2025, Lanzarote’s Cabildo announced that it would be the first island to implement the Canarian Government’s plan to designate 3,100 hectares of the island’s surface area for possible development for wind and solar power installations.

However, when the regional government published the relevant maps in August, the Cabildo complained that several areas had been included that were not in the original agreement.

After months of argument, the Canarian Government admitted to “error” in the drafting of the maps, but as yet they remain unchanged and can be consulted at grafcan.es

They show zones that are considered suitable or able to be conditioned for wind and solar power installations near Arrecife, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, Macher, La Santa, Tahiche, Playa Quemada and several other areas.

No projects have been proposed as yet, but it is possible that once the ZARs have been agreed, renewable installations could be installed without the full environmental surveys that are usually required.

While the Cabildo seeks to solve its conflict with the regional government by setting up a committee to revise the maps, there has been strong criticism of the situation from local councils, political opposition groups and ecological groups. 

Socialist deputy Marcos Bergáz has called for the situation to be resolved “with consensus between the Canarian Government, the Cabildo and the seven island councils”, while Ecologists In Action have criticised the plan and called for a “genuine public debate that take into account social and environmental factors, as well as energy fairness.”