Nature

The Spanish government has officially initiated the procedure to build a major new pumped hydroelectric storage plant in Güímar, Tenerife. With an investment exceeding one billion euros, the project aims to revolutionise renewable energy storage on the island while rehabilitating a scarred landscape from illegal quarries. Read on for the full details of this transformative infrastructure project.

A fifth and more intense seismic swarm has been detected near Mount Teide in Tenerife, registering around 1,000 small events. Scientific authorities, however, unanimously state there is no evidence of a short or medium-term volcanic eruption. The activity is being closely monitored for any changes.

The Canary Islands Parliament has taken the first step to investigate the controversial Cuna del Alma tourist development in Tenerife. A complaint alleges institutional complicity in fast-tracking the project within a protected coastal zone. Read the full details of the parliamentary inquiry.

A fierce political row has erupted in Tenerife’s island council over the new ‘ecotasa’ for Teide National Park. Socialist councillors have labelled the fee a “greenwashing” strategy that will only affect 2.1% of visitors, while the governing group defends its record on park management. Read the full debate on conservation, funding, and overcrowding solutions.

The new ecotax for accessing the most popular trails in Tenerife’s Teide National Park has seen over 3,000 tourists contribute to its conservation in the first two weeks. The system has generated €34,090 and aims to control visitor pressure on sensitive paths. Read on for a breakdown of the user data and essential booking information for prospective hikers.

Tenerife has experienced a swarm of more than 90 minor earthquakes southwest of the Las Cañadas caldera. The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute states this is a normal event and does not signal an increased risk of a volcanic eruption. The activity is linked to the movement of hydrothermal fluids deep within the island.