Held over two days at Case Esment near Palma, Mallorca, the Clean energy for EU islands forum 2026 brought together 133 participants to take stock of progress and define the next steps for decarbonising Europe’s islands. As the closing event of the initiative’s current phase, following three years of technical assistance and regulatory review work with the 30for2030 islands, the forum highlighted both the complexity of the transition and the growing momentum across the island community.
Across presentations, panel discussions and workshops, participants explored how stronger cooperation between communities, local authorities, national governments, regulators, utilities and EU institutions can help turn ambition into action. A clear message emerged throughout the forum: islands are not peripheral to Europe’s energy transition, but can serve as frontrunners and living laboratories for integrated clean energy solutions.
Opening contributions by Jan Cornillie, Rosalinde Van der Vlies, Joan Groizard Payeras and Diego Víu Domínguez underlined the importance of governance, local participation and coordinated support, while keynote speaker Pau de Vilchez Moragues framed the transition as not only a technical challenge, but also a question of justice, resilience and collective responsibility. On the second day, sessions on the water-energy nexus, waste-energy solutions, community energy and policy alignment showed that successful island decarbonisation depends on integrated planning, practical local delivery structures and policy frameworks tailored to island realities. In the closing plenary, Rosalinde Van der Vlies stressed that islands are strategic drivers of Europe’s energy transition and that continued exchange, political commitment and stronger national engagement will be essential to maintain momentum.
Alongside the main programme, participants visited the Son Oliva School Climate Shelter and the Green Hysland hydrogen production facility, which offer practical examples of how island innovation is already taking shape on the ground.
Browse the local news here:
- IB3 Notícies | Les Balears, amfitriones del fòrum del projecte per descarbonitzar els territoris insulars europeus
- El Govern de les Illes Balears impulsa el debate europeo sobre la transición energética insular en el marco del Clean Energy for EU Islands Forum 2026
- Palma acoge el Clean Energy for EU Islands Forum 2026 sobre transición energética insular - Mallorca Informa | El Periódico de los Periódicos
- Baleares se reivindica ante Europa como laboratorio insular de la transición energética - Mallorcadiario.com
- La transición energética en Baleares se acelera por la crisis geopolítica
- La Universitat de les Illes Balears acull el Clean Energy for EU Islands Forum 2026 - Diari de la UIB - Universitat de les Illes Balears