El Hierro, Spain Island Stories

Europeans once believed that this was the end of the world.

El Hierro is the smallest, remotest part of the Canary Islands,

one that tourists tend to miss.

It never stops blowing on El Hierro.

This iconic wild juniper tree has been battered for years...

..which explains the unusual shape.

But for the islanders, the wind has become a valuable resource.

-TRANSLATION:

-The island of El Hierro, the remotest,

the most neglected of the Canary Islands, has been

fighting for more than 30 years to become energy self-sufficient.

And we had a dream of converting the wind into electricity,

to improve the quality of life for the people.

Wind energy isn't new, but the genius of this island's system

is that they have combined wind and water.

-TRANSLATION:

-When we have enough wind in the wind farm,

we produce electricity and distribute it through the grid.

We use what's left to pump water from a lower reservoir

to a higher one.

When it stops blowing, we let that water fall

through a set of hydraulic turbines

and we generate electricity again for the population.

El Hierro will soon be powered completely through this set-up,

making it the world's greenest island.

Whilst the wind is powering turbines down in the valley,

up above the clouds, it's propelling thrill-seekers through the skies.

-TRANSLATION:

-It's the feeling of freedom,

to be able to take off from these surroundings

with a sea of clouds at your feet.

Go through them and pass by the 1,500-metre-high cliffs.

And all of this all year round, in a place of incomparable beauty.

Welcome on El Hierro!

Despite the abundance of wind on the island,

fresh water is more difficult to come by.

There are no rivers or natural lakes on El Hierro.

So the islanders were forced to look elsewhere, deep underground.

More than half of this island's water comes from wells like this,

rainwater seeping through the volcanic rock.

The rest is from three desalination plants.

Of course, this water is more natural and people say it tastes better.

The islanders often queue to fill their bottles

straight from the wells.

Wherever you are, the terrain grabs your attention.

Look up, and the view can be just as absorbing.

Their unique system for powering an island may be too costly for some,

impractical for others,

but El Hierro could become an example to the world -

a self-sufficient island on the road to a cleaner,

more sustainable future.