The Municipality of Carloforte, on the island of San Pietro in south‑western Sardinia, is continuing to turn its clean energy ambitions into concrete action, with a growing focus on one of the most strategic and challenging areas for island communities: ports and maritime transport. The latest step in this process is the installation of a photovoltaic carport in the port area, marking another milestone in the island’s long‑term transition towards a more resilient and lower‑carbon energy system.
Developed within the NRRP‑funded RAISE “Hinspiration” research project, the new infrastructure combines a 20 kW photovoltaic system, a 10 kWh battery storage unit and a smart monitoring platform designed to simulate smart‑grid behaviour, including interaction with storage and virtual hydrogen generation. With a total investment of more than €355,000, the system will also supply a dedicated electric charging point of around 10 kW for port‑related vehicles, while contributing renewable electricity to local port uses such as public lighting.
Ports are vital infrastructures for islands such as San Pietro, which is home to just under 6,000 inhabitants across an area of 51 km² and depends heavily on maritime connections for mobility, goods and services. At the same time, ports concentrate significant energy demand and emissions. Decarbonising these hubs is therefore not only a technical challenge but a key lever for strengthening territorial resilience, reducing dependence on imported energy and improving local environmental performance.
In parallel with the photovoltaic installation, the Municipality of Carloforte has recently completed the assignment for the design of a new shore‑side electricity supply system for the port quay. Financed through a €500,000 contribution from the Sardinia Region, the project foresees the installation of five 150 kW electricity supply columns to allow ferries to connect to onshore power while docked, replacing the current equipment. The design phase is now underway, with completion expected by 2028.
These investments are closely linked to the wider strategic reflection taking place on the island. In 2025, Carloforte hosted the Clean energy for EU islands workshop “Sustainable marine transport and the role of ports in decarbonising energy systems”, organised within the framework of the Clean energy for EU islands initiative. The event provided a dedicated forum for local authorities, experts and stakeholders to discuss how island ports can evolve from energy‑intensive infrastructures into active enablers of the clean energy transition. Discussions focused on sustainable maritime transport, electrification solutions, system integration and the role of ports within broader island energy systems.
More broadly, San Pietro has been supported by the Clean energy for EU islands initiative and its italian regional partner Politecnico di Torino, for several years, including the development of its Clean Energy Transition Agenda. While the island already produces part of its electricity from renewable sources — mainly photovoltaic installations on public and private rooftops, including a 1 MW system — most electricity is still imported from the mainland via undersea cables. This makes continued investment in local generation, storage and system flexibility particularly relevant.
The recent progress in the port of Carloforte shows how this strategic framework is being translated into practice. By combining renewable electricity production, battery storage, electric mobility and future shore‑side power supply, the island is demonstrating how clean energy planning can be implemented step by step, even in sensitive and complex areas such as ports.
The experience of San Pietro underlines an important lesson for other European islands: the clean energy transition is not achieved through a single technology or project, but through a coherent mix of local commitment, technical planning, public investment and European support, turning long‑term visions into tangible improvements for essential island services.
Photographer: Francesco Rosso