Decarbonizing Island Mobility: Energy and Environmental Benefits of Rail Transport in Gran Canaria

Abstract

The shift to sustainable mobility is especially challenging for island regions, where limited land, densely populated corridors, and strong reliance on fossil fuels constrain transport options. This study develops a macroscale methodology to estimate reductions in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic congestion by replacing fossil-fuel-based public and private road transport with an electric rail system supplied exclusively by dedicated renewable energy sources. Unlike conventional electrification, this approach guarantees genuine decarbonization by ensuring a fully renewable power supply for rail operations. Gran Canaria is employed as a case study, applying the methodology through an intermodal scenario that integrates the rail system with existing public transport services. Results show substantial potential to lower the carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, and relieve congestion. The analysis focuses on the southeastern metropolitan corridor of the island, where transport demand, population, and economic activities are most concentrated. The proposed framework offers a transferable tool for supporting sustainable mobility strategies in island contexts consistent with global climate goals and policy priorities. Although the case study is specific to Gran Canaria, the methodology provides insights that may be relevant for other territories with comparable mobility and energy challenges, including isolated or weak-grid regions.