The LIFE project 4ENERAGENCIES supports the establishment and operation of four new Energy Agencies, three in Gran Canaria and one in Tenerife, helping local authorities accelerate the clean energy transition while contributing to the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate and energy objectives.
4ENERAGENCIES is the first EU-funded initiative in more than 15 years dedicated to creating new Energy Agencies. Energy Agencies play a crucial role in driving the energy transition at local level by designing energy strategies, supporting project implementation, and facilitating investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
As part of its latest consortium meeting, the project took a major step towards strengthening local energy governance in the Canary Islands by actively involving the private sector in the development of three new local Energy Agencies in Gran Canaria.
On 27 October 2026, the 4ENERAGENCIES project partners, including the Gran Canaria Energy Council (CIEGC), the energy consultancy Escan s.l., and FEDARENE, met with representatives of Gran Canaria’s business community to encourage their participation as founding members of the future Agencies.
The event highlighted the importance of involving businesses not only as beneficiaries of the Agencies’ services but also as key contributors to their governance and long-term success. The Agencies will support companies in reducing energy costs, improving energy efficiency, and strengthening their sustainability and competitiveness.
During the meeting, Raúl García Brink, Councillor for Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge of the Gran Canaria Island Council and FEDARENE Vice-President for Grid Capacity and Flexibility, emphasised the value of a business-led model, reflecting an approach successfully adopted by Energy Agencies across Europe:
From the Gran Canaria Energy Council, we will mentor these Agencies for three years with the goal of ensuring their long-term financial sustainability and enabling them to provide guidance and support to companies in Gran Canaria on projects related to efficiency and sustainability. This will not only help improve the environment and mitigate climate change, but also contribute to making our businesses more competitive in the future.
— — — Raúl García Brink
Specialised support for key economic sectors
The three Agencies will focus on strategic sectors of the island’s economy. One will be dedicated to tourism, commerce, services, construction and mobility; another to industry, logistics and the port sector; and the third to the primary sector, food production, water management and natural resources.
The model envisages these Agencies as independent private entities led by businesses themselves. To support this approach, the meeting presented opportunities for organisations to become founding partners and participate in future governing boards, enabling the business community to help shape the Agencies’ priorities and services.
Advancing towards more sustainable business models
The future Agencies will provide tailored support to help businesses and local communities navigate the energy transition, including advice on energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, the deployment of renewable energy systems, Energy Saving Certificates (ESC), and access to financing opportunities and grants.
By offering practical, hands-on assistance, the Agencies will help companies identify energy-saving opportunities, comply with evolving regulatory requirements, and adopt more sustainable business models.
The Agencies will also contribute to addressing some of Gran Canaria’s most pressing energy challenges, including its high dependence on imported energy and the need to increase local energy self-sufficiency.
Among their objectives are boosting renewable energy generation, particularly solar and wind power; supporting energy storage solutions; promoting collective self-consumption and energy communities; advancing building energy efficiency; encouraging electric mobility; and leveraging digital technologies to optimise energy management.
The event concluded with a networking breakfast, giving participants the opportunity to exchange views on the project and explore potential collaborations ahead of the formal launch of the three Agencies.
