The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat has published a new technical assistance study examining how Estonia's island grids can accommodate more renewable energy while maintaining reliability and resilience.
The study examines the islands of Saaremaa and Ruhnu, where growing interest in renewable energy projects is increasingly constrained by limited grid capacity. While the islands have significant renewable energy potential, existing network bottlenecks make it difficult and costly to connect new solar, wind and other clean energy installations.
Prepared through the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat's Technical Assistance programme, the study assesses both immediate and long-term options to improve grid integration of decentralised renewable energy sources. Key recommendations include conducting detailed hosting capacity analyses, deploying smart-grid technologies, improving grid transparency, and introducing flexible connection agreements that could enable new renewable projects to connect before major network reinforcements are completed.
The study focuses on the potential use of Flexible Connection Agreements (FCAs), which can provide conditional access to the network in constrained areas while more permanent grid upgrades are planned and implemented. The analysis concludes that a staged approach, combining targeted network investments with carefully designed flexibility solutions, offers the most promising pathway for the Estonian islands.
The report also draws on experiences from other island regions and international examples, highlighting how flexibility, digitalisation, storage and improved grid management can help unlock additional renewable energy capacity while ensuring secure system operation.
The findings provide practical guidance for grid operators, local authorities, renewable energy developers and policymakers working to accelerate the clean energy transition on islands facing similar challenges across Europe.
Read the full report here.