The oceans are the world’s largest untapped source of renewable energy. Drawing on a limitless, indigenous source of energy, Ocean energy technologies exploit the power of tides and waves, as well as differences in sea temperatures and salinity, to produce electricity. Ocean energy’s predictability makes it an ideal balancing partner for wind and solar and it has little if null environmental impact, plus it is particularly strategic for those islands that do not have enough land space at disposal. To invest in ocean energy can bring the technological costs down by creating economies of scale. The potentials for economic benefits, jobs creation, and to lead a vast global export market are huge.
The target of this webinar is to offer an overview on wave energy technologies and trends, highlighting the importance of investing in R&D to unlock their high potential in the clean energy mix.

Smart grids are at the basis of energetic communities and are particularly pivotal in distributed power systems. Constantly improving operative software for smart grids, together with the latest storage technologies, allow for an increased RES and e-Mobility penetration on islands. Energy storage can provide much-needed flexibility across different timescales, which is essential to transition to a system dominated by variable renewables. Storage can support energy efficiency in consumers’ homes, commercial and industrial facilities, and at larger scale in the grid.
Therefore, smart grids and energy storage have the potential to support decarbonization, flexibility and stability of the grid, and can adapt very well to different energy mixes, demand profiles, and other attributes that differ across the islands.
The target of this webinar is to offer an update about the most significant smart grid management systems and storage technologies to maximize the penetration of RES and e-Mobility, while ensuring grid’s efficiency and stability.

Floating offshore wind is a fast-maturing technology, which could potentially cover a leading role in the energy transition process of islands. In this context, Mediterranean Sea, acknowledged its geophysical characteristics, could be the perfect scenario for the implementation of innovative pilot projects, that could become replicable best practices.
The workshop will present the state of the work of the task force on the Mediterranean case study and debate the best conditions (technical, regulatory, market, etc.) for the take-off of floating offshore wind technologies.

Climate change and consequent water scarcity clearly foster the necessity of finding eco-friendly solutions in order to guarantee an adequate high-quality freshwater supply to island inhabitants. In this context, seawater desalination, coupled with renewables energy systems, is in most cases the answer.
Hence, this workshop will give an overview on feasible technical solutions and best practices, which ensure water availability at competitive costs, along with research of interesting funding opportunities. It will also debate on the opportunities and challenging for the implementation of project on islands.

The potential of bicycle mobility in islands is clear, especially in the small ones, both for residents and tourists. One of the main challenges though is related to the fact that road infrastructures have been conceived for cars. When it comes to enabling a proper infrastructure for bicycles on islands, in fact, the issue is space more than cost. Political will is needed in order to sacrifice some of the space destinated to motored vehicles to create cycle paths, with a great benefit from the reduction of acoustic and air pollution. Safety is another key factor, as cycling lovers are discouraged from unsafety of roads. Paths do not necessarily have to be placed alongside roads: they can be identified in the outdoors, where cyclists can be safe while enjoying the landscape and the contact with nature. Sustainable tourism is embracing this sort of solutions, which have a high potential.
What policies can be applied to promote the growth of bicycle infrastructure? What best practices are in place?

Electric and low-emission transport solutions connecting islands are vital for the decarbonisation of islands. Existing electric boats are an optimal solution for short touristic trips while low-emission (i.e. LNG-powered) solutions for larger ships have already applied to substitute or transform traditional ferries.
Besides, ports electrification can significantly help reducing pollution in islands. In fact, when docks are electrified, ships that are otherwise polluting when harbored, can be connected to the power grid, helping in the meantime also its stability and flexibility while allowing for an even larger penetration of RES.
The workshop will reply to the following questions.
What are the latest findings concerning sustainable maritime transport? What are the latest technologies and best practices available?

Sustainable agriculture is fundamental for small islands’ self-sufficiency, economy, and transmission of their natural heritage. A number of innovative plantation techniques, such as hydroponic cultivation combined with renewables and organic residues management through biodigesters or reuse, is available on the market. Hence, the formed task force is to focus on coupling the conservation and development of island indigenous crops, thanks to the latest technologies capable of minimizing the consumption of water and employing treated wastewater for irrigation. The workshop aims to present and debate a model for the sustainability and efficiency of the agricultural process, which would be applicable to the different climates of the islands of the world and capable of promoting the “made in the islands” agricultural products by ensuring the traceability of high-quality local products and the protection of islands’ endemic species.

By disseminating knowledge and best practices we accelerate the sustainability and self-sufficiency of islands and remote locations, acting as a catalyst in relations between private and public stakeholders. Islands are laboratories of innovation and indeed can indicate the path to decarbonization to the mainland. The 6th Greening the Islands Awards, with applications from islands’ administrations all around the world related to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Mobility, Water, Waste, Agriculture, Sustainable tourism, are the occasion to identify and disseminate innovative and replicable best practices in the field of sustainability. The prestigious jury will evaluate the best projects, call attention to the importance of replicating best practices and explain how they can be divulgated in terms of policy and communications.

With the pandemic, the EU has launched the new recovery instrument, the Next Generation EU, which foresees significant investments on the European Green Deal objectives aiming to kick start a European renovation wave and make the EU a leader in the circular economy.

How much of these important investments for the sustainable transition will go to islands? Islands’ needs risk to be neglected if they are not considered in the programs that the EU Member States will present by December. Besides, it will be important to ensure that the greatest difficulties of the islands will be considered in the text of the Just Transition Mechanism that will be finally approved.

The workshop aims at replying to the points of above, giving some recommendations that take into account the priorities of the European Union with particular reference to the islands in the “Multiannual Financial Framework” (MFF), for the period 2021-2027, which underpin EU cohesion policy, in response to the emergency. It will important to foresee projects that will reduce insular disadvantages. In line with the Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative, islands should be seen as frontrunners in the EU sustainable transition.

Besides, the workshop will debate on the link of the EU measures with national and local instruments such as National Energy and Climate Plans (NEPs) and Covenant of Mayors (SEAPC).

Electrochemical storage and electric vehicles are of key importance in the decarbonization process of islands, being a crucial aspect of realization and management of high RES penetration projects and clean mobility. The European Commission will soon propose a new regulatory framework on how batteries are being produced and managed at the end of their life, with the ultimate goal of promoting their sustainable production in Europe.
Hence, the objective of the workshop is to present the recommendations of the GTI Observatory task force on the upcoming EU regulatory framework, debating on possible solutions in order to overcome regulatory issues hindering a wide production and application of such a technology.