Video file
Join us in the Azores for the #CE4EUislands forum 2025!
Island communities, experts, and stakeholders will come together to explore the path to achieving a 100% renewable energy future while balancing environmental, economic, and social priorities.
SAVE THE DATE: 14-15 May 2025, São Miguel, AZORES, PORTUGAL
Register now!
The forum will showcase the progress made with the EU islands secretariat’s 30 for 2030 initiative. We will discuss the first results, tackle the challenges of the island energy transition, and explore how the findings can be replicated to achieve a sustainable transition.
Participants will discover exciting projects currently leading the renewable energy transition across the 30 for 2030 islands, focusing on how they're meeting environmental, economic, and social needs. Through interactive discussions, we'll identify gaps and opportunities to scale up these successes.
This year’s forum also offers hands-on collaboration with working groups tackling key environmental, economic, and social priorities and challenges that are vital for building a sustainable energy future!
Logistical information
- EVENT LOCATION & LIVESTREAM
The event will be organised on-site at the Octant hotel in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel, Azores, Portugal.
Selected agenda points will be live-streamed. Please also register if you want to join online.
- REIMBURSEMENT
The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat offers travel grants for least-resourced participants who wish to join us at the #CE4EUislands forum. Please find more information here.
- BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
We have created a document with some more information on recommendation for hotels. Find some hotel recommendations including promotional codes here.
Workshops
This workshop is part of our ongoing series of capacity-building initiatives to support the 30 for 2030 islands and island groups as they transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Please register for these workshops via the registration for the Clean energy for EU islands forum 2025 below.
- Effective Communication and Capacity Building Strategies on Energy and Sustainability, 13 May 2025
- Battery Storage: Available Technologies, State of the Market, Investment, Business Plans, 16 May 2025
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.
-
-
09:30 – 10:15 AZOT
Welcome and objective setting
Welcoming of the participants from the Secretariat, DG ENER, and local hosts
-
-
10:15 – 10:40 AZOT
Keynote speech: Energy transition and public policies for the Portuguese islands
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 AZOT
Introduction to the breakout sessions: balancing the social, environmental, technical and economic dimensions of projects on EU islands
-
-
11:00 – 11:30 AZOT
Coffee Break
Transfer to working groups
-
-
11:30 – 13:30 AZOT
Breakout session #1: Renewable energy generation
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 AZOT
Breakout session #2: Sustainable transport
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 AZOT
Lunch break
-
-
14:30– 14:45 AZOT
Update of the regulatory inventory
Presentation of the regulatory inventory as a tool to support communities in developing energy projects.
-
-
14:45 – 15:00 AZOT
Introduction to the site visits
Presentation of the site visits of the two days.
-
-
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
-
-
09:00 – 09:30 AZOT
Registration
Check-in for on-site participation.
-
-
09:30 – 10:30 AZOT
Business plans and financing schemes for clean energy projects
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 AZOT
Coffee Break
Transfer to working groups
-
-
11:00 – 13:00 AZOT
Breakout session #1: Energy efficiency
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 AZOT
Breakout session #2: Infrastructure and grids
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 AZOT
Lunch break
-
-
14:00 – 15:00 AZOT
Plenary discussion on the social, environmental, technical and economic aspects of the four project categories studied
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 AZOT
Conclusion of the conference
-
-
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 setting
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 islands
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 islands
-
11:00 – 11:30 AZOTCoffee Break
Transfer to working groups
-
11:30 – 13:30 AZOTBreakout session #1: Renewable energy generation
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 transport
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 inventory
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 projects
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 efficiency
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 grids
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 studied
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