The consortium formed by ITC, MRC, and GAUSS Energy is developing the energy efficiency and sustainable mobility strategy for four Mexican islands—Cozumel, Holbox, Isla Mujeres, and Isla Natividad—after being awarded the contract tendered by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

This week, representatives from Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission are visiting the Canary Islands, accompanied by technical staff from ITC, to tour various industrial, tourism, agricultural, and public sector facilities that stand out as innovative energy transition projects in island environments

The joint proposal presented by the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), MRC Consultants, and GAUSS Energy was recently selected in a public tender launched by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop the "Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Mobility Strategy" for four Mexican islands: Cozumel, Holbox, and Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean, and Isla Natividad in the Pacific. This significant initiative positions ITC as a leading technological consultant for island territories at the international level in seeking solutions to tackle energy transition and sustainable development.

This energy consultancy services contract, which will run until October 2024, builds on the work initiated by the three entities in 2022 in Mexico's Caribbean islands, under the tender “Analysis for the incorporation of renewable energy and clean technologies for self-sufficiency on the islands of Holbox and Cozumel (Quintana Roo),” financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), with the aim of promoting the decarbonization of these islands. The current strategy aims to implement a program focused on two main areas: energy efficiency and sustainable mobility.

To learn from and identify international best practices, the project includes study visits such as the one taking place this week in the Canary Islands by a delegation from Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), led by the Deputy Director of Network Business, Edgar del Villar, and a member of the Corporate Operations Directorate, Aizaladema Altamirano. Alongside key players in the Archipelago’s energy transition, the visitors will gain first-hand knowledge of various experiences and projects developed in the islands regarding mobility and efficiency in different sectors—industrial, tourism, primary, healthcare, and public administration—initiatives that promote decarbonization and the integration of renewable energy sources.

Over the course of four days, the delegation will follow a packed agenda across Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. The visit kicked off on Monday, June 18, with a tour of ITC’s facilities in Pozo Izquierdo, where they explored the commonalities between the PTECan and Mexico's island planning, and delved into the technical aspects of strategic projects such as the Gorona del Viento Hydroelectric Plant in El Hierro, the integration of hydrogen technologies in road transport (BIOGREENFINERY), and rural electrification systems, among others. They also visited the Las Palmas Port Authority to learn about efficiency projects applied to the public sector and maritime mobility, including the port energy community.

The meetings will continue on Tuesday in Gran Canaria, with a session with authorities from the Canary Islands Department of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, followed by visits to the Bimbo factory (self-consumption photovoltaic installation), the FSM group (efficiency applied to the primary sector), and the Doctor Negrín University Hospital (Zer0 Emissions Health Strategy 2030). On Wednesday, June 20, visits are scheduled to Romeral Laundry and the Lopesan Costa Meloneras Hotel to observe energy efficiency models in the industrial and tourism sectors, respectively. On Thursday, June 21, the itinerary moves to Lanzarote, where the delegation will explore public administration projects at the Cabildo Insular facilities and examine energy efficiency measures implemented in tourist accommodations, specifically at the Hotel Fariones and the Club La Santa complex.

The work plan developed by ITC, in collaboration with MRC Consultants and GAUSS Energy, as part of the Mexican Federal State's energy-sustainable islands program promoted by the IDB, covers everything from sector-specific comparative analysis (residential, tourism, industrial, etc.) to the preparation of reports and surveys to define the program’s development. This includes a technical analysis of the implemented measures, setting objectives, indicators, and conducting a financial analysis, along with a roadmap for the program's implementation as outlined in the contract.

Previous International Energy Consultancy Experience

In 2023, ITC completed energy consultancy work on Mexican Caribbean islands, specifically Holbox and Cozumel, under the tender launched by the French Development Agency (AFD). This project, developed in collaboration with MRC Consultants and GAUSS Energy, involved a comprehensive analysis of energy supply, consumption, and demand on the islands, aimed at assessing the regulatory, technical, environmental, social, economic, and financial feasibility of an energy-sustainable islands model based on technologies that harness renewable energy potential.

With the awarding of this new contract for Mexican islands, through the IDB—the most important international financial organization in Latin America promoting social and economic development projects and fostering sustainable growth—the Canary Islands Institute of Technology continues to demonstrate its capacity and expertise in implementing strategies to accelerate energy self-sufficiency and decarbonization in island territories, reaffirming its position as an international reference center for sustainable energy planning.