The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat joined forces with the Special Envoy for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba to the EU and Island Innovation to organise the session “Mobilising Blended Climate Finance for Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba: From Policy to Practice.” The event, held at the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the European Union in Brussels, brought together utilities, government leaders, EU institutions and financial actors for a full day dedicated to accelerating the energy transition in the three Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).
Throughout the day, participants highlighted that the islands have concrete renewable energy and infrastructure projects ready for implementation and are now seeking the right financial pathways to unlock their full potential. Speakers emphasised that with adequate support, the islands are poised to reach close to 100% renewable energy, supported by detailed governmental energy visions and well‑established utility roadmaps. The atmosphere was notably optimistic: island representatives expressed confidence in their projects, while financial institutions and programmes showed strong interest in identifying practical solutions tailored to the OCTs’ realities.
Representing the CE4EUI Secretariat, Jan Cornillie and Elise van Dijk presented the main findings of the Secretariat’s recent position paper, detailing the support already provided to the islands. This includes infrastructure planning, smart energy systems, EV charging strategies and, critically, comprehensive energy transition roadmaps aimed at achieving 100% renewable energy. Their recommendations underscored the need to adapt eligibility rules of European and Dutch national programmes to better reflect the islands’ context, and to strengthen transparency and matchmaking between project teams and available funding instruments.
Two panel sessions provided concrete insights into both investment needs and opportunities. The first brought together utility representatives from Bonaire (WEB), St. Eustatius (STUCO) and Saba (SEC), who presented their current renewable energy projects and highlighted the financing gaps still to be addressed. They stressed the value of the islands as innovation labs—ideal test beds for clean energy solutions that can inspire replication across island territories worldwide. The second panel gave the floor to European programmes, public banks and foundations, which responded to the gaps identified by the islands and explored how mandates and instruments could evolve to unlock blended climate finance for the OCTs.
In the afternoon, participants engaged in a dedicated matchmaking session. Each island held one‑to‑one exchanges with financial programmes to discuss concrete project needs and explore pathways toward bankability and implementation. These conversations demonstrated in real‑time the impact of the Secretariat’s work: convening the right partners, fostering clarity around investment opportunities and accelerating progress toward the islands’ clean energy ambitions.
The event ultimately reinforced a clear message: Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are ready for their next step in the clean energy transition. By strengthening collaboration between island governments, utilities, European institutions and financial actors, the pathway toward near‑100% renewable energy is not only feasible but well underway.