Gianni Chianetta, Founder & Director at Greening the Islands, speaks about Greening the Islands and what was already achieved. 

There were six deliberative sessions during the first day (07 June) of the Clean energy for EU islands forum. 

Find a summary of each workshop here. 

Clean energy for EU islands forum 2023, 07 & 08 June, Saaremaa, Estonia. 

By Edita Dranseikaite – Policy officer CE4EUI, European Commission

Keynotes and launch of the call for 30 renewable energy islands

Kadri Simson - European Commissioner for Energy, European Commission: The key message of Kadri Simson's keynote speech was the fundamental change in Europe's energy provision and the importance of islands in achieving cleaner, greener, and more affordable energy and the launch of the call for technical assistance 30 for 30. 

Clean energy for EU islands forum 2023, 07 & 08 June, Saarema, Estonia.

Jan Cornillie, Project Director of Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (3E), highlighted the practical aspects of their island work. One of the topics to be discussed soon is the launch of a call for technical assistance. This initiative aims to support clean energy projects and initiatives on EU islands.

Moderator: Kostas Komninos - DAFNI (Greece)

Konstantinos Kparissis - Eurelectric (Greece): Energy transition's relation to the industry and challenges faced by island grids. Regulatory aspects, including bundled and unbundled systems. Importance of grid stability and adapting to bi-directional energy flow. Market size constraints and limited technological providers. Need for a mixed generation approach.

Participants: Pau de Vilchez Moragues from UIB (Spain), Reuben Irvine from the Island of Yell, Shetland (UK), Pauline Lucas from Euroheat and Power (Belgium), James Ellsmoor from Island Innovation (Portugal), Moderator Alexis Chatzimpiros – Samsø Energy Academy (Denmark)

Keynotes on climate change, clean energy and island communities about the urgency to act on decarbonisation, involving people through policy and citizens assemblies, as well as community climate action plans but also noting the lessons for global islands, overcoming challenges and showcasing replicable solutions.

Welcome by Jan Cornillie – Project director, Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (3E), stressing the importance of ownership and involvement of local communities in the clean energy transition.

Mikk Tuisk - Mayor Saaremaa: emphasising the renewable energy potential of Saaremaa, highlighting the availability of solar and wind resources on the island and the importance of the grid.

Eero Ailio - Senior Adviser Energy Transition, DG ENER, European Commission: focusing on accelerating the green transition and asking EU islands to be bold.

This Technical Assistance aims to support the electrification of A Illa de Arousa's port and mussel farming activities. The wind potential and solar potential of the island were analyzed, indicating that a small-scale wind turbine and ground-mounted solar PV system could generate significant electricity. The future energy consumption of the port was estimated, and different charging profiles for the electrified vessels were created.

The island Ceantar na nOileán applied for technical assistance under the Clean Energy Transition for Ceantar na nOileán project. The Island Clean Energy Transition Agenda, developed by the local community, outlines a shared vision for the island's clean energy transition. A draft of Part I of the agenda has been created, and a public meeting was held to discuss the development of the agenda, with insights shared from the Danish island of Samsø.

The Municipality of Halki and the Energy Community of Halki have been selected for the second round of technical assistance under the Electryone project, provided by the Clean Energy for EU Islands secretariat. The study focuses on three main tasks.