Introduction
The Municipality of Tomiño is located in the Baixo Miño region, in the south-west of the province of Pontevedra, at a distance of approximately 60 kilometres from the provincial capital. The municipality is situated inland, with a population of 13,800 and an area of 106.61 square kilometres. According to the Galician Institute of Statistics, it is classified as a sparsely populated area, with a degree of urbanisation.
It is part of EU RURAL Rural Development Group (RDG14).
Population and demographic structure
The population of Tomiño showed a growth in the period from 1991 to 2022 of more than 3,000 inhabitants, with a figure of 35%. In the last ten years it continued to show a slight increase of 0.3% and contrasted with the fall both in Galicia, with -3.27%, and in the province, with -1.61%.
Tomiño presented a demographic ageing with a narrowing of the base of the population pyramid and an increase in the average age. In 2022, the average age of the inhabitants in 2022 reached 46 years. Women had a slightly higher average age than men, 46.7 years compared to 44.5 years.
The increase in the Total Dependency Ratio (TDR) in Tomiño reached 54% in 2022. Despite this growth, Tomiño showed a demographic deterioration and ageing, which has important social, economic and cultural consequences.
Population dynamics in Tomiño.
Evolution of the total dependency ratio of Tomiño, Pontevedra and Galicia.
Economy
The evolution of the Gross Disposable Product (GDP) had a similar trajectory to that of the province of A Coruña and Galicia. After a decline in 2010 and 2014, year-on-year growth rates were positive until 2020, with a 0.90% increase compared to 2018. This growth was expected to continue until 2022, with an estimated 10.5% increase.
The Gross Disposable Income (GDI) has shown a growth trend. Between 2002 and 2019, this growth was 10%, with the gross income reaching 13,637 euros per inhabitant in 2019. This was more than 3,000 euros below the Galician average.
Using the number of social security registrations as an estimate of municipal employment, Tomiño experienced an increase of 19% between 2011 and 2022, above that recorded at the Galician and provincial level. The primary sector represented 5.7%, the secondary sector 30% and the tertiary sector more than 61%.
In 2022, Tomiño had an activity rate of 68.2%. The employment rate was 60% in 2022, while the unemployment rate stood at 12.8%.
Evolution of Gross Disposable Income per inhabitant in Tomiño, Pontevedra and Galicia.
Evolution of employment, unemployment, and activity rates in the municipality of Tomiño.
Energy resources
Tomiño has a single electricity production facility using photovoltaic technology, with an installed capacity of 10 kW, registered in September 2008. Additionally, the region has two hydroelectric production facilities with a total installed capacity of 1.95 MWh.
The estimated electricity consumption of Tomiño in 2023 was 27,033.41 MWh. The residential sector consumed 15,227.71 MWh of electricity. The consumption of services, including municipal services, was 7,773.75 MWh. Industry consumed 4,031.95 MWh.
Energy Policy Councils
Date of the first meeting:
9th April 2024
Number of participants:
15 people
Profile of participants:
- Staff of the municipality of Tomiño: mayoress
- EC4RURAL project staff: UVIGO, ESPAZOCOOP
- Citizens, Municipal Market stallholders
Evaluation of the energy situation
The mayoress of Tomiño identified the key elements in the energy transition of the municipality. Among them, biomass projects and photovoltaic boilers, energy advice available from technical support, information activities and visibility in the energy field of energy communities. She says that the main and initial interest would be to develop an energy community that would serve the Municipal Market stallholders.
Dialogue between the parties
During the meeting, there was an open dialogue between the citizens and the municipality about photovoltaic energy production. The spatio-temporal distribution of the photovoltaic panels, the model of photovoltaic energy production for self-consumption and energy surplus, the advantages and risks of promoting an energy community using the photovoltaic production model, especially in relation to the number of investments and their amortisation period. The municipality expresses its willingness to promote, collaborate and support energy community initiatives in the municipality.
Conclusions
After the joint co-creative process, the first contact with the neighbourhood and local authorities have been positive. There is a real interest in the development of the rural energy community as they think about joint action and the benefits of making it happen.
As a final conclusion of this meeting, the Energy Policy Council has been created.
