Offshore Wind Development in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands represent a compelling frontier for offshore wind development, combining excellent wind resources with some of the most complex geological settings encountered in Europe.
A recent study completed by Cathie highlights how volcanic origins, steep seabed slopes, shallow rock and variable ground conditions fundamentally shape how offshore infrastructure must be planned and designed in this region.
Engineering Challenges and Floating Wind Solutions
Anchor design is strongly influenced by water depth and seabed morphology. The rapid transition to deep water and hard volcanic substrates limits the feasibility of conventional bottom-fixed turbines, making floating wind solutions the most viable option for large-scale development. However, floating systems introduce their own engineering challenges, including anchor performance, mooring interactions and a dynamic response to geohazards.
Geological Hazards and Site Investigation
Landslide Susceptibility of the Canary Islands
From a geological perspective, submarine landslides emerge as the most significant hazard across the archipelago, particularly around El Hierro, La Palma and Tenerife. Steep volcanic flanks, past flank collapses and ongoing geomorphological processes can generate instability that must be carefully assessed when selecting anchor locations and routing subsea infrastructure.
These conditions reinforce the importance of robust ground models and phased site investigation strategies.
Geomorphological Seabed Features of the Canary Islands
Subsea Cable Risk and Protection
Subsea cables are particularly sensitive to the Canary Islands’ geological setting. Steep slopes, boulder fields, hard seabed and the potential for submarine mass movements all increase the risk of cable damage and exposure. Careful cable routing, burial risk assessment and protection strategies are therefore essential to ensure long-term power export reliability.
Unlocking Offshore Wind Potential
Overall, our study reinforces a key message for offshore wind in complex environments: early-stage geology and engineering insight is critical.
Integrating geological understanding with cable and foundation engineering from the outset can significantly reduce risk, avoid costly redesigns and unlock offshore wind potential in challenging but high-reward regions like the Canary Islands.
Want to know more? StoryMap ‘Teaser’ of the Canary Islands Study
An online StoryMap complements our desktop study by offering a visual, interactive, and engaging way to understand the Canary Island’s offshore wind potential. This tool brings the study to life with maps, visuals, and concise insights, making it easy to explore the area.