Day 1 highlights the need for stronger governance and stakeholder alignment
The first day of the Clean energy for EU islands forum 2026 in Mallorca focused on one central message: decarbonising Europe’s islands requires stronger alignment across all levels of governance and closer cooperation between the many actors involved in the transition. Bringing together European, national, regional and local stakeholders, the opening discussions underlined that islands are not only particularly exposed to energy insecurity, climate risks and fossil fuel dependence, but are also well placed to act as frontrunners in testing integrated, community-based clean energy solutions.
The day began with a welcome session moderated by Jan Cornillie, Project Director of the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat, who framed the discussions around the growing volatility of global oil markets and the increasing importance of renewable energy and grid stability for island communities. Rosalinde Van der Vlies, Director for Just Transition, Consumers, Efficiency and Innovation at DG ENER, European Commission, highlighted the EU’s commitment to reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels through initiatives supporting storage, electrification, energy efficiency and citizen-led energy communities, while stressing the frontrunner role islands can play in Europe’s energy transition. Joan Groizard Payeras, State Secretary for Energy at Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, described islands as laboratories for innovation and community-led transformation, underlining that the transition must deliver social, environmental and economic benefits locally. Diego Víu Domínguez, Director General of Circular Economy, Energy Transition and Climate Change for the Government of the Balearic Islands, then pointed to the specific pressures facing island territories, including tourism, population growth and rising demand, while presenting the Balearic Islands’ response through renewable deployment, circular economy measures and electric mobility.
This broader governance perspective was reinforced in the keynote speech by Pau de Vilchez Moragues, Vice-Rector of International Relations, Solidarity and Global Justice at the Universitat de les Illes Balears, who argued that the energy transition on islands is not only a technical challenge but also a matter of justice, resilience and collective responsibility. He emphasised the particular vulnerability of islands to fossil fuel price volatility and energy dependence, while making the case for stronger policies, collective action and active citizen involvement to secure a just and sustainable future.
Throughout the stakeholder group sessions, participants explored the transition from different perspectives while identifying shared barriers and priorities. Representatives of national and regional governments and regulators discussed progress in renewable energy deployment and grid modernisation, as well as emerging questions regarding offshore wind and maritime spatial planning. Local authorities highlighted persistent obstacles, including limited financial and technical capacity, regulatory gaps, low social acceptance, and insufficient communication. System operators and technical experts focused on the conditions needed to meet transition targets, particularly regarding storage, demand-side measures, monitoring, and regulatory frameworks. Island communities stressed that a just transition must be rooted in local identity, democratic participation and long-term community benefit, with stronger support for skills development, local governance and access to finance.
Taken together, the first day of the forum showed that island decarbonisation is not simply about deploying clean technologies. It is equally about building trust, strengthening institutions and creating the conditions for communities and authorities to work towards shared goals. The discussions confirmed that islands can serve as living laboratories for Europe’s energy transition, but also that their progress will depend on more coherent governance, better coordination and sustained engagement across all stakeholder groups.