While islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change, they enjoy a naturally high potential of renewable energy sources to harness. Many islands have abundant renewable energy potential, which can be tapped to lead decarbonisation. However, access to reliable, clean and competitive sources of energy remains a main concern of island communities in the EU. Although it is often technically and financially possible to develop renewable energy projects on islands, legal and regulatory frameworks, whether EU, national, regional or local, are not always fitfor purpose.

The European Commission has adopted a new strategic vision for the EU’s outermost regions, including the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, recognising their strategic importance for Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and global reach. The new approach acknowledges both the unique challenges these territories face and their significant potential to contribute to Europe’s sustainable future. Many outermost regions and islands continue to face high energy costs and dependence on imported fossil fuels.

This paper draws on practical experience from renewable energy initiatives on Croatian islands to highlight legal and regulatory uncertainties affecting the implementation of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), Citizen Energy Communities (CECs), energy sharing, and collective self-consumption.

The Islands Marketplace aims to facilitate connections between island transition teams and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investors, providing a platform for collaboration and investment. The tools and resources presented during the webinar are designed to empower island communities to develop compelling project narratives and confidently navigate the financing process.

For more information about the Islands Marketplace and to access the tools and resources, visit here.

The webinar 'Hydrogen technologies: Production, storage and utilisation in remote energy systems' offers a critical overview of recent developments in the hydrogen sector, helping to distinguish policy ambitions from technical and economic realities.

Particular attention is given to island contexts, where hydrogen can play a strategic role in decarbonising maritime transport and providing long-duration energy storage. This addresses key challenges faced by isolated, non-interconnected energy systems.

This report constitutes the completed CETA for the islands of Giglio and Giannutri and is provided in the original Italian language. The CETA contains a description of the islands’ context, primarily in terms of geography, economy and demographics, but also includes a presentation of the islands’ administrative bodies. The document presents the current energy system and investigates potential decarbonization scenarios based on the assessment of the potential of renewable energy sources on the islands.

A new report under the Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative examines how district heating networks powered by renewable heat sources can support the clean energy transition on islands, using the Dutch island of Ameland as a case study.Heating accounts for a major share of energy demand on islands such as Ameland—around 67%—with most of it currently supplied by imported natural gas.

A new technical report from the Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative provides valuable insights into how salt exposure affects heat pumps and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems—and how these impacts can be effectively managed in coastal environments.Salt spray and harsh marine conditions can significantly accelerate corrosion in key system components, reducing performance, increasing maintenance costs and shortening the lifespan of energy installations.