This was the #CE4EUislands forum 2025!
Island communities, experts, and stakeholders came together to explore the path to achieving a 100% renewable energy future while balancing environmental, economic, and social priorities.
The Clean energy for EU islands forum 2025, held in São Miguel, Azores, brought together participants from over 30 islands to explore the theme “The Islands Formula: Balancing Environmental, Social and Economic Priorities for the 100% Renewable Goal.” Over two days, the forum featured keynote speeches, technical workshops, and panel discussions addressing renewable energy, sustainable transport, energy efficiency, and grid infrastructure. Highlights included progress updates from the Azores, insights into regulatory frameworks, and site visits showcasing São Miguel’s renewable energy systems. Key takeaways emphasised the importance of community involvement, financing innovation, and strategic infrastructure investment. The forum underscored islands’ leadership in Europe’s clean energy transition, calling for regulatory stability, local empowerment, and stronger alignment between public and private efforts.
Agenda & Slides
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DAY 1 | 14 May 2025
Program details
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09:00-09:30 AZOT
Registration
Check-in for on-site participation.
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09:30 – 10:15 AZOT
Welcome and objective setting
Host: Jan Cornillie - Clean energy for EU islands secretariat, Speaker: Alejandro Ulzurrun De Asanza Y Munoz, European Commission, Paulo André, Electricidade dos Açores, Berta Cabral, Government of Azores
Welcoming of the participants from the Secretariat, DG ENER, and local hosts
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10:15 – 10:40 AZOT
Keynote speech: Energy transition and public policies for the Portuguese islands
Speaker: João Abel Peças Lopes, Director of INESC TEC
Keynote speech on the social, environmental, technical and economic dimensions of clean energy projects on EU islands. Considerations about their intertwined nature and the importance of balancing them for a successful project outcome.
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10:40 - 11:00 AZOT
Introduction to the breakout sessions: balancing the social, environmental, technical and economic dimensions of projects on EU islands
Speaker: Martina Cannata, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (3E) & Riccardo Novo, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (3E)
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11:00 – 11:30 AZOT
Coffee Break
Transfer to working groups
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11:30 – 13:30 AZOT
Breakout session #1: Renewable energy generation
Moderation: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (PoliTo, 3E) & Rapporteur: Claire Helly, Maesha project representative and Policy and Project Officer, CPMR Islands Commission
Explore the costs, benefits & progress of island energy projects in a gamified panel. Experience real-world decisions & the need for holistic planning amid unique challenges like limited space & competing social, environmental, and economic factors.
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11:30 – 13:30 AZOT
Breakout session #2: Sustainable transport
Moderation: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (DNV, EISEA, UIB) & Rapporteur: Joana F. Rita, Regional Director for Energy, Government of the Azores
Island transport relies on fossil fuels, creating high emissions. This session shares inspiring green mobility transitions from islands like Giglio & Saaremaa, exploring electrification, modal shifts & policy through environmental, social & economic lense
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13:30 – 14:30 AZOT
Lunch break
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14:30– 14:45 AZOT
Update of the regulatory inventory
Mojtaba Eliassi, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (Th!nk E)
Presentation of the regulatory inventory as a tool to support communities in developing energy projects.
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14:45 – 15:00 AZOT
Introduction to the site visits
Presentation of the site visits of the two days.
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15:00 – 18:30 AZOT
Site visits
Group 1: Central termoelétrica do Caldeirão & Group 2: Pico Vermelho Geothermal Power Station. The site visit will be made possible by EDA - Electricidade dos Açores.
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DAY 2 | 15 May 2025
Program details
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09:00 – 09:30 AZOT
Registration
Check-in for on-site participation.
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09:30 – 10:30 AZOT
Business plans and financing schemes for clean energy projects
Moderation: Amandine Gal, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (Econoler) Speaker: Jean-Gabriel Steinmetz, Corsica Sole, Anton Ebersberg Self, Força Açoreana S.A., Tiago Simões de Almeida, Banco BPI
This session introduces the Marketplace and how islanders can use it. Panellists will share experiences developing business models, securing funding, and managing risks for clean energy projects, with a focus on early assessment and strategy.
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10:30 – 11:00 AZOT
Coffee Break
Transfer to working groups
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11:00 – 13:00 AZOT
Breakout session #1: Energy efficiency
Moderation: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (Econoler, ESIN, Island Movement) & Rapporteur: Nicole Versijp, DG ENER, European Commission
This session explores how islands reduce energy use in buildings across climates using insulation, smart controls & more. Through talks & a "world café" format, participants will tackle technical, social & economic aspects, ending with key takeaways.
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11:00 – 13:00 AZOT
Breakout session #2: Infrastructure and grids
Moderation: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (DAFNI, Th!nk E, SEI) & Rapporteur: Vasiliki Pantelopoulou, Secretary General of Partnership Agreement (ESPA), Ministry of Economy and Finance of Greece
Explore how island grids can support more renewables through storage, interconnection, and digitalisation. Case studies from the Azores & 30 for 2030 will guide group discussions on challenges and solutions across technical, social & economic areas.
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13:00 – 14:00 AZOT
Lunch break
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14:00 – 15:00 AZOT
Plenary discussion on the social, environmental, technical and economic aspects of the four project categories studied
Speaker: Joana F. Rita, Governments of the Azores, Claire Helly, Maesha project representative and CPMR, Nicole Versijp, European Commission, Konstantinos Vlakos, Ministry of National Economy and Finance (Greece)
Plenary discussion on the outputs from the working groups of the two days. Presenters from the different breakout sessions will share the identified main challenges for addressing the four aspects.
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15:00 – 15:30 AZOT
Conclusion of the conference
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15:30 – 19:00 AZOT
Site visits
Group 1: Pico Vermelho Geothermal Power Station & Group 2: Central termoelétrica do Caldeirão. The site visit will be made possible by EDA - Electricidade dos Açores
DAY 1 | 14 May 2025
Program details
-
09:00-09:30 AZOTRegistration
Check-in for on-site participation.
-
09:30 – 10:15 AZOTWelcome and objective settingHost: Jan Cornillie - Clean energy for EU islands secretariat, Speaker: Alejandro Ulzurrun De Asanza Y Munoz, European Commission, Paulo André, Electricidade dos Açores, Berta Cabral, Government of Azores
Welcoming of the participants from the Secretariat, DG ENER, and local hosts
-
10:15 – 10:40 AZOTKeynote speech: Energy transition and public policies for the Portuguese islandsSpeaker: João Abel Peças Lopes, Director of INESC TEC
Keynote speech on the social, environmental, technical and economic dimensions of clean energy projects on EU islands. Considerations about their intertwined nature and the importance of balancing them for a successful project outcome.
-
10:40 - 11:00 AZOTIntroduction to the breakout sessions: balancing the social, environmental, technical and economic dimensions of projects on EU islandsSpeaker: Martina Cannata, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (3E) & Riccardo Novo, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (3E)
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11:00 – 11:30 AZOTCoffee Break
Transfer to working groups
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11:30 – 13:30 AZOTBreakout session #1: Renewable energy generationModeration: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (PoliTo, 3E) & Rapporteur: Claire Helly, Maesha project representative and Policy and Project Officer, CPMR Islands Commission
Explore the costs, benefits & progress of island energy projects in a gamified panel. Experience real-world decisions & the need for holistic planning amid unique challenges like limited space & competing social, environmental, and economic factors.
-
11:30 – 13:30 AZOTBreakout session #2: Sustainable transportModeration: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (DNV, EISEA, UIB) & Rapporteur: Joana F. Rita, Regional Director for Energy, Government of the Azores
Island transport relies on fossil fuels, creating high emissions. This session shares inspiring green mobility transitions from islands like Giglio & Saaremaa, exploring electrification, modal shifts & policy through environmental, social & economic lense
-
13:30 – 14:30 AZOTLunch break
-
14:30– 14:45 AZOTUpdate of the regulatory inventoryMojtaba Eliassi, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (Th!nk E)
Presentation of the regulatory inventory as a tool to support communities in developing energy projects.
-
14:45 – 15:00 AZOTIntroduction to the site visits
Presentation of the site visits of the two days.
-
15:00 – 18:30 AZOTSite visits
Group 1: Central termoelétrica do Caldeirão & Group 2: Pico Vermelho Geothermal Power Station. The site visit will be made possible by EDA - Electricidade dos Açores.
DAY 2 | 15 May 2025
Program details
-
09:00 – 09:30 AZOTRegistration
Check-in for on-site participation.
-
09:30 – 10:30 AZOTBusiness plans and financing schemes for clean energy projectsModeration: Amandine Gal, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (Econoler) Speaker: Jean-Gabriel Steinmetz, Corsica Sole, Anton Ebersberg Self, Força Açoreana S.A., Tiago Simões de Almeida, Banco BPI
This session introduces the Marketplace and how islanders can use it. Panellists will share experiences developing business models, securing funding, and managing risks for clean energy projects, with a focus on early assessment and strategy.
-
10:30 – 11:00 AZOTCoffee Break
Transfer to working groups
-
11:00 – 13:00 AZOTBreakout session #1: Energy efficiencyModeration: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (Econoler, ESIN, Island Movement) & Rapporteur: Nicole Versijp, DG ENER, European Commission
This session explores how islands reduce energy use in buildings across climates using insulation, smart controls & more. Through talks & a "world café" format, participants will tackle technical, social & economic aspects, ending with key takeaways.
-
11:00 – 13:00 AZOTBreakout session #2: Infrastructure and gridsModeration: Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (DAFNI, Th!nk E, SEI) & Rapporteur: Vasiliki Pantelopoulou, Secretary General of Partnership Agreement (ESPA), Ministry of Economy and Finance of Greece
Explore how island grids can support more renewables through storage, interconnection, and digitalisation. Case studies from the Azores & 30 for 2030 will guide group discussions on challenges and solutions across technical, social & economic areas.
-
13:00 – 14:00 AZOTLunch break
-
14:00 – 15:00 AZOTPlenary discussion on the social, environmental, technical and economic aspects of the four project categories studiedSpeaker: Joana F. Rita, Governments of the Azores, Claire Helly, Maesha project representative and CPMR, Nicole Versijp, European Commission, Konstantinos Vlakos, Ministry of National Economy and Finance (Greece)
Plenary discussion on the outputs from the working groups of the two days. Presenters from the different breakout sessions will share the identified main challenges for addressing the four aspects.
-
15:00 – 15:30 AZOTConclusion of the conference
-
15:30 – 19:00 AZOTSite visits
Group 1: Pico Vermelho Geothermal Power Station & Group 2: Central termoelétrica do Caldeirão. The site visit will be made possible by EDA - Electricidade dos Açores