Exploring optimized solutions for wind and solar power deployment in a case study for the Canary Islands

Solar and wind power are key pillars in the transition toward decarbonized electricity systems, but their integration is challenged by weather-driven intermittency. To address this, the CLIMAX tool was developed to support actionable strategies for deploying wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities that reduce production volatility. In this case study, CLIMAX is applied to the Canary Islands, an insular region with diverse climatic conditions, to generate optimized deployment scenarios. The objective is to minimize residual demand (net electricity demand minus renewable generation) by leveraging the spatio-temporal complementarity of wind and solar resources. Results show that optimized strategies can improve system stability by up to 20 percentage points relative to current deployment patterns. These gains are achieved through a balanced approach combining (i) adjustment of the wind-to-solar ratio in the mix and (ii) spatial redistribution of facilities to prioritize complementarity over mere productivity. As a trade-off, optimized configurations often involve lower capacity factors, since site selection considers joint performance rather than isolated potential. The study also assesses the role of urban rooftop PV systems, demonstrating that ambitious coverage thresholds could transform underused urban surfaces into valuable energy assets—an insight with clear implications for integrated planning and renewable energy policy.