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Clean energy for EU islands

policy recommendations

Study on connection policies and management of energy systems under conditions of asynchronous generation in the non-interconnected islands

In 2021 and 2022 the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat (the secretariat) conducted a study on the regulatory barriers affecting the clean energy transition of islands. This provided significant insights into the operation of the islands’ electricity systems and formulated recommendations to overcome existing challenges. Grid constraints and the lack of security of supply were identified as two of the key barriers to the decarbonisation of EU islands’ energy systems.

Ireland: Our Living Islands

The Irish Department of Rural and Community Development has launched its first Irish Islands policy in 27 years. Due to the lobbying work of  Aran Islands Energy Coop the policy is taking the study on Regulatory barriers in Ireland drafted by the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat into account. Stating that the coastal islands and their communities are an integral part of the fabric of rural Ireland. They are also an integral part of the State’s heritage and have a special significance in Irish culture. 

STUDY - Regulatory barriers in Sweden: findings and recommendations

This Study on legal and regulatory barriers for the clean energy transition on Swedish islands is the result of a consultative process. Based on an inventory of the current legislation and information gathered via surveys and interviews, the Clean energy for EU Islands Secretariat has brought together relevant stakeholders to identify barriers to the clean energy transition on Swedish islands, and formulated recommendations to overcome them.

STUDY - Regulatory barriers in Italy: findings and recommendations

This Study on legal and regulatory barriers for the clean energy transition on Italian islands is the result of a consultative process. Based on an inventory of the current legislation and information gathered via surveys and interviews, the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat has brought together relevant stakeholders to identify barriers to the clean energy transition on Italian islands, and formulated recommendations to overcome them.

BOOKLET - Regulatory barriers in Italy: findings and recommendations

Italy has recently implemented national and regional policy measures to facilitate the energy transition on the Italian islands. However, several major challenges remain. Based on an inventory of the current legislation, the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat carried out surveys and interviews to identify the barriers to clean energy deployment and the solutions to overcome those. These findings were discussed with all relevant stakeholders in two Focus Group meetings and a National Stakeholder Meeting (NSM). The result of that process is described in this booklet.

BOOKLET: Regulatory barriers in Greece: findings and recommendations

Drawing upon the regulatory inventory of the current legislation, the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat carried out surveys and interviews with Greek stakeholders to identify the barriers to the clean energy deployment on the islands and the solutions to overcome those. These findings were discussed with all relevant stakeholders in two focus group meetings and a national stakeholder meeting (NSM). The result of that process is described in this booklet.

BOOKLET - Regulatory barriers in Croatia: findings and recommendations

Croatia and its island stakeholders have been very active on the European level in bringing to focus the agenda of the energy transition of the islands. In the past two years, the national legislation was improved by the creation of a framework for energy transition which include the islands. However, challenges to the implementation of energy transition still remain.

BOOKLET - Regulatory barriers in Ireland: findings and recommendations

The Irish islands have been frontrunners in the energy transition. Multiple community-led renewable energy projects have been developed on islands such as the Aran islands, Cape Clear and Bere island. Several actions taken by the Irish national government have contributed to this objective, for example, an uplifted grant for islands within the energy efficiency programmes, that allows inhabitants on islands to get 50% more funding. Nonetheless, several challenges for the clean energy transition on the islands remain.

BOOKLET - Regulatory barriers in Estonia: findings and recommendations

Estonia has recently implemented national measures to facilitate the energy transition on the Estonian islands. However, several major challenges remain. Based on an inventory of the current legislation, the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat carried out surveys and interviews to identify the barriers to clean energy deployment and the solutions to overcome those. These findings were discussed with all relevant stakeholders in two focus group meetings and a national stakeholder meeting (NSM). The results of that process are described in this booklet.

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