Pioneers pave way for EU islands’ clean energy transition
_750_500_80_s.jpg)
Sifnos in Greece was one of the islands piloted for energy transition by the Secretariat. Credit: Flickr/Linda
Islands of the European Union can now learn from the experiences of six pilot projects in their attempts to transition to a clean energy network.
Clean Energy for EU Islands, an initiative launched in May 2019, has now released a handbook including theory and practical advice to help islands evolve into clean energy hubs through step-by-step processes, based on the findings of the frontrunner projects delivered so far.
The new document took a year to prepare, Jeppen Mikel Jensen - co-ordinator of the Secretary of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat, told PV Tech. It describes the experiences of six pilot islands over the 12-month period, and will immediately support another 20 pioneers in this space, although these 20 will receive lighter support from the Secretary compared to the initial six projects.
“It’s a two-way process,” said Jensen. “We on the secretary side are building this initiative for the islands, with the islands.”
The Secretariat had originally developed Transition Agendas with the Aran Islands in Ireland, the Cres-Lošinj archipelago in Croatia, Sifnos in Greece, Culatra in Portugal, Salina in Italy and La Palma in Spain. Many of these involve solar PV deployment and in some cases agri-voltaic projects, where solar is combined with agriculture to optimise land use. Electricity storage was also included in planning.
The experiences and inputs of the 20 pioneers will also be used to hone and revise the guidance offered so far.
The handbook states: "Islands offer a series of specific opportunities that are very well suited for modern energy planning, both in terms of the potential for energy efficiency, renewables and innovative solutions, as well as the creation of a broad and strong community-driven transition process."
When launched, the Clean Energy for EU Islands scheme promised to help islands with early-stage, pre-feasibility studies as well as technical and financial due diligence for more advanced projects.
In October, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) offered grants worth €40 million (US$44 million) to 55 small solar projects to be located on Spain's Balearic Islands, with a total capacity of 326MW.
The six Islands' Transition Agendas can be found here.
The prospects and challenges of solar's new era in Europe and beyond will take centre stage at Solar Media's Solar Finance & Investment Europe (London, 5-6 February) and Large Scale Solar Europe 2020 (Lisbon, on 31 March-1 April 2020).
Solar Finance & Investment Europe
The business of solar is changing, as the industry scales up, technology, IT and new players to the market will add complexity. This sparks a host of opportunities such as co-location of solar and storage and the rise of unsubsidised solar projects as well as challenges which will question the very business model of European solar asset owners. Solar Finance & Investment Europe is the meeting place for institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, solar, wind and storage funds and large energy buyers to do business.
Also read...
-
Pan-European solar rooftop programme proposed by European Parliament Committee
-
European Energy completes Italy’s largest solar farm, readies €800m future investments
-
New laws eye ‘massive’ deployment of renewables in Spain
-
European renewable ambitions on track as green hydrogen era beckons
-
Spanish solar: Acciona inks PPA as Q-Energy bags US$350m refinancing
Comments