Empowering Islands: Uptake of Renewable Technologies and Innovations for Smart Decarbonization

Islands face distinctive challenges in their energy systems due to several factors. These include: (i) Geographical Isolation, which disconnects them from mainland power grids and natural resources, exacerbating energy costs and reliability concerns; (ii) Small and Dispersed Populations, which limit economies of scale and lead to significant demand fluctuations; (iii) Energy Independence and Security Concerns, driven by heavy reliance on imports and heightened vulnerability to disruptions; and (iv) Elevated Energy Costs, resulting from these combined challenges.

The energy systems of islands and archipelagos vary widely, ranging from fully isolated networks to those connected to the mainland. To address these unique energy landscapes, this project seeks to develop specialized energy modelling tools and to examine a selection of archipelagos worldwide with different characteristics, aiming to identify optimal energy system solutions.

The proposed approach will consider a diverse set of generation facilities and technologies, integrating various renewable energy sources (RES) and storage solutions. These include offshore renewable technologies, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, onshore and offshore wind energy, ocean energy, mobile battery storage ships, and other innovative technologies. Additionally, the project will evaluate the cost-benefit of local power production versus the construction and expansion of new submarine transmission lines, where this option is feasible.