The idea to achieve 100% energysupply from renewable energysources is not an invention, as inChania it was demonstrated thatmany small and medium-sized is-lands can already reach it in arelatively short time. In facta significant part of theprojects presented bymore than 50 islands, arebased on 100% objec-tives. Among them the ini-tiatives and strategies of ElHierro, Samsoe, Aero, LaMaddalena and Gotland, or big-island strategies such as the Creteone, stand out.

Chania, an importantstep forward to build thecommon future of islands

Towards 100% RenewableEnergy Sources Supply Strategy

In June 2001 some 150 representatives of European islands metin Chania (Crete) in order to consolidate the need for a large-scale strategy aiming to promote the maximum use of renew-able energy sources on european islands.

able Energy Sources Unit). Thisinitiative relied on the support ofthe European Commission, andculminated a long process of co-ordination between those islandswhich wagered on a future basedon energy self-sufficiency and forclean energy sources.

Due to its territorial, environ-mental and economic implica-tions, energy is a central factor inthe island dilemma. Implementing

the wrong energy model couldmortgage our economies,future development op-tions and the environ-ment, because energy so-

lutions are closely relatedto how island resources are

managed. This interdependence isextremely prominent in islands,where it also involves transport,water and waste management

policies, all of which are key as-pects for the achievement of a sat-isfactory sustainable develop-ment.

Insularity’s differential factorsand the extreme diversity of situ-ations they show have not beensufficiently valued yet. If we limitourselves to the European case,an overall view would give us amore correct approach, since en-ergy singularities refer to some300 European islands, inhabitedby more than 13 million people.These numbers surpass those ofseveral EU member States.

In fact, we would go as far asto say that islands have becomegenuine laboratories of the futureof energy sustainability. Theweight of energy costs, alongwith the enormous social and en-vironmental implications of us-ing energy in such vulnerableregions, is clearly tipping thescales. This philosophy is sharedby most islands, and was explic-itly stated in the final documentdrawn up at the end of the FirstEuropean Conference on Sus-

Software Tool for Island100% RES Strategy

The Institute of Technology and Re-newable Energies (ITER), has elabo-rated, in the framework of the Euro-pean Island OPET's initiatives, a soft-ware for decision-making for theprocess of renewable energy sourcesimplementation within the electricalsystem. This tool turned to be an ab-solute necessity at the time to estab-lish the different options and sce-narios for the development of RES ininsular systems.

To establish a general guideline forthe integration of RES on any island isa difficult task. Resources vary in alarge amount, as well as needs andisland characteristics. Obviously, theapproach for powering with RES anisland with 10,000 inhabitants is com-pletely different than one with half amillion. Therefore this tool had to facewith the extreme variability of situationsshown by island territories.

This tool is being implemented to out-line the energy scenario and RE possi-bilities of almost any island, given cli-mate information and potential re-sources. The software will make a realhourly energy management for a spe-cific type of renewables (for a combinedapproach in the near future) as well asstorage dimentioning. Therefore, to testthe validity of the approach, to cover thewidest possible range of applications,it has been decided to study the case ofa large island (Tenerife), where moredifficulties come together. Undertakingthis task for an island with such a com-plex scenario, both in energy demandand sectoral requirements, would makeit easier for a further implementation inother regions.

One of the advantages of the soft-ware is the possibility to combine de-cisions about Electricity Savings andRES Electricity Production.

1/2002

The Conference was an actionof the European Island OPET andwas organised by RENES (Na-

tional Technical Univer-sity of Athens -

Renew-

tainable Island Development(Minorca, 1997), which clearlystates that: “Non-renewable en-ergy sources must be consideredas provisional solutions, unsuit-able as a long-term solution tothe energy problem in islands”.The mere fact of sharing theirexperiences, allowed island peo-ple to discover their several com-mon points at the moment of es-tablishing their energy policy,and their need to tighten their di-rect cooperation links to guaran-tee a higher efficiency of tech-nology innovation and strengthenthe defence of their common in-terests.

Renewable EnergySources: Policiesand ApplicationsInternational ConferenceCyprus

OPET- Cyprus in cooperation withOPET-Balkan and EI OPET is organis-ing a Conference that will be held on25-26 April 2002 in Nicosia (Cyprus).The Conference is aimed at the defini-tion of energy policies in isolated re-gions, with a special emphasis on is-land areas. The meeting is coordinatedby the Applied Energy Centre.

Cover of the published CD-Rom contain-ing the Conference proceedings andagreements

ITER

The frameworkof the initiativeThe European Commission’sWhite Paper “Energy for the Fu-ture: Renewable Energy Sources”sets out a Community Strategyand Action Plan to increase RESmarket penetration, to improvesecurity of energy supply, to re-duce energy dependency, and toreduce greenhouse gas emissionsin order to meet the Kyoto objec-tives. In order to foster the imple-mentation process of the Commu-nity Strategy and Action Plan, theEuropean Commission haslaunched “The Campaign forTake-Off” that runs from year2000 to year 2003. One of the keysectors of “The Campaign forTake-Off” is the “100 Communi-ties Aimed at 100% RES Sup-ply”.Within this context, islands con-stitute an ideal field for imple-menting the Community’s keyaction to strive for 100% RESsupply, since:• Islands have a very rich RES

potential most of which is notexploited yet.

• Most islands are extremely de-pendent on outside energy.

• Electricity generating costs canbe ten times higher than in otherregions.

• Local economies are very oftendependent on tourism and therelated industry is developingfast.

• As a result, energy problems(due to high seasonal differencesin demand and to power loadpeaks) and environmental prob-lems are common characteris-tics.

• The environmental impact ofconventional sources and tech-nologies are greater than on themainland because of the fragileand vulnerable nature of islandterritories.

On the other hand, the BarbadosConference on islands and smallisland states, held in 1994 underthe auspices of the United Na-tions, established that one of thebasic determining factors for sus-tainable and equitable develop-ment of islands lies in energy as-pects. Subsequently, the IslandSolar Summit, held in Tenerife in1999 confirmed that most islandsrealized that the energysustainability strategy is one ofthe biggest development chal-lenges of this moment. This strat-egy has been shaped in the IslandSolar Agenda.Today, the maturity of RES tech-nologies offers the opportunityfor islands to succeed energy in-dependence, through a large-scale exploitation of their abun-dant RES potential. An ideaclearly expressed in the agree-ments stemmed from the 1st Eu-ropean Conference on Sustain-able Island Development (Mi-

norca, 1997): “Energy sourcesother than renewable must beconsidered as provisional solu-tions unsuitable to solve in thelong term the energy problem inislands.”This idea has also been reflectedby the Island 2010 initiative,which joins together the mainEuropean 100% RES experiencesand defines a model of passagetowards this objective.

The importanceof Chania DeclarationThe Chania Declaration is the re-sult of the intensive works devel-oped by island communities dur-ing the last years and expressesthe need to consolidate the 100%RES network, once the big ob-stacles to the launching of thefirst initiatives are overcome.The identification of the essen-tial characters of the island is-sue is at the base of this newmovement.

The traditional limitations in theenergy field, such as distancefrom the major grids, small scale,distribution difficulties and thelack of large conventional mar-kets, are more than off-set by theextreme abundance of renewableenergy sources, and the incredibleadaptability and capacity of inte-gration of renewable energy tech-

nologies; factors that are in sharpcontrast with the progressive in-efficiency and high cost of con-ventional energy systems in islandregions.

In fact, we would go as far asto say that islands have becomegenuine laboratories of the futureof energy sustainability. Theweight of energy costs, alongwith the enormous social and en-vironmental implications of us-ing energy in such vulnerableregions, is clearly tipping thescales.

The debate on sustainable en-ergy supply is part and parcel ofthe new challenges that islandsmust face in the immediate fu-ture. Nowadays, sustainable de-velopment for European islandscannot be understood without re-lating energy aspects with tour-ism or water production. Theseasonal nature of tourism andthe fact that it requires servicesof this kind to be much largerthan those required by the resi-dent population, howeveradapted their development maybe, represents a serious headachefor energy supply. More thanfifty million Europeans chooseisland destinations for their holi-days, thus creating scenarios thatwere unthinkable up until now.The data brings us face to facewith a reality that cannot be hid-den. This reality can be summedup by saying that the Greek is-lands receive more tourists thanPortugal; the Balearic Islandshave twice as many tourists asBrazil and the Canary Islandsreceive twice as many tourists asSouth Africa, the great emergingdestination of Africa.

This same equation can be seenin the water-energy tandem. Lim-ited water resources have forcedmany islands to make the leap todesalination to quench their grow-ing thirst. Islands have started tomeasure water in terms of energyunits.

We, the participants of the Confer-ence on "Renewable Energies for Is-lands - Towards 100% RES Supply",meeting in Chania (Crete) on 14-16June 2001,

Considering that the energy dimensionis a fundamental aspect of the futuredevelopment of islands, given theirextreme dependence on external con-ventional energy sources, high costsand the unacceptable risks of sup-ply security,

Mindful that the environmental impactof conventional sources and tech-nologies is greater than on the main-land because of the fragile and vul-nerable nature of island territories,thus endangering a European capi-tal of the first magnitude,

Taking into account that island energyoptions progressively determineother essential aspects for sustain-able island development like watermanagement and production and in-land transport policies,

Considering that island economieshave changed significantly in the di-rection of new specialisation like tour-ism, creating new scenarios in whichthe demand for energy is character-ised by enormous variability, disper-sion and even by large seasonal dif-ferences,

Aware that, although if they are consid-ered individually, islands do not ac-count for a very high proportion of theEuropean energy market, when takenas a whole we face a problem that af-fects 4% of the landmass and over13 million European citizens. And, fur-thermore, while islands are thus rec-ognized as most vulnerable to climatechange, they have made the smallestcontribution to its causes,

Taking into account that most islandshave abundant, though little used re-newable energy sources whose dis-tribution and potential for hybrid useis far more closely in line with islandneeds, and that new renewable en-ergy technologies allow for better in-tegration than conventional systems,for reasons of scale,

Mindful that in this context, the 1st Eu-ropean Conference on SustainableIsland Development (1997), in its fi-nal declaration, established that "Non-renewable energy sources must beconsidered as provisional solutions,unsuitable as a long-term solution tothe energy problem in islands",

Considering that articles 154 and 158of the Amsterdam Treaty, and decla-ration number 30 enclosed, estab-lish basis enough for considering theisland factor as a substantial differ-ence in favour of renewable energies,

Recalling the dispositions and recom-mendations in favour of implement-ing renewable energy sources on alarge scale in European islands, whichform part of the Palma de MajorcaDeclaration of 20th March 1999, theKos Resolution of 11th May 2000, theMadeira Declaration of 2001 and inthe Cagliari Declaration of the 24th ofFebruary, 2001,

Recognising that the idea of attaining100% Renewable Energy SourcesSupply has become a powerful meta-phor for many islands, supported bythe appearance of real projects thatdemonstrate the real possibility ofthis final objective and by the wide-spread will of islands to establish dif-ferentiated energy strategies basedon a maximum use of renewable en-ergy sources.

Confirm our definite commitment to fos-ter the development of the renewableenergies on our islands, which is aimedto reach the 100% of energy supply.

Agree to share the experiences that de-rive from the 100% RES different ini-tiatives with other communities andisland regions of the world and to fos-ter the exchange of information andsolutions adopted with the aim to per-mit its replication in new initiatives.

Recognise the urgent necessity to gen-eralize the measures that guaranteethe efficient and rational use of energyas an indispensable condition for thebig scale implementation of RES.

Understand that, being the islands themain actors of change, we shouldconsolidate the inter-island networkcooperation for the development ofdemonstration projects and guaran-tee the mutual assistance as it is ex-pressed for example in the risingmodel for the OPET European Islands.

Agree to promote the consolidation ofthe 100% RES Island Network in thecontext of the 100 Communities100% RES European Initiative as astructural reference for the improve-ment and replication of 100% RESsolutions to other islands.

Believe in the necessity of the devel-opment of different mechanisms thatwill allow us to participate and involvethe island communities in the proc-ess of the decision-making in favourof the energy sustainability.

Think that the commitment for buildingthe 100% RES Island Communitiesshould include all sectors related totransport, water supply and manage-ment as well as the establishment ofeffective partnership within the neweconomy actors on the islands inparticularly the related to the touristindustry.

CHANIA DECLARATIONIslands -Towards 100% Renewable Energy Sources Supply

Presentation of the Chania agreements with the presence of Cipriano Marín, A. Zervos and island authorities.

In this extremely variableframework, energy options takeon a fundamental strategic valuefor islands, especially with regardto the aspects of supply costs,quality and security. If we add theenvironmental dimension, whereislands cannot afford the exces-sive externalities of conventionalsystems, being areas where the en-vironment and the landscape arethe principle factor of value addedfor their future survival, we cometo the conclusion that renewablesare not an option, they are the onlyreasonable path to follow in thefuture.

Islands have made a start. In theface of this situation, overall Eu-ropean forecasts have been ex-ceeded. Islands no longer talkabout 12% RES; they are start-ing to design 100% RES systemsfor the future. And all these solu-tions and designs are based on realprojects and strategies. We havethe El Hierro project, based on awind-hydraulic system, theSamsoe strategy that includesgenerating hydrogen for cleantransport in the future, the caseof Gotland, the renewable islandof the Baltic, Pellworm’s proposalto cut the energy connection withthe mainland, the Maddalenaproject; an example of 100% RESin protected islands, or the initia-tives of Aero and Corfu.

These examples are merely thetip of the iceberg of a major proc-ess of deploying renewable ener-gies in all European island territo-

ries. The islands now have a largenumber of plans for implementingrenewable energy sources on alarge scale, such is the case ofCrete, the new advances that areappearing in Madeira, the Danishpath to island sustainable energysupply, the development ofrenewables in the French OverseasDepartments like Guadeloupe, thecase of Corsica or the accordlaunched by the Italian governmentfor the Italian Small Islands.

Unlike other regions, island ac-tion to promote renewables is notcircumscribed to the field of tech-nology or the energy market; italso involves the very politicalaction of island regions. With re-gard to energy, the specificity ofthe Island factor has been a con-stant element of reflection in mostEuropean Union meetings andinter-island agreements, besidethe very recent Chania declara-tion. The declarations of Palmade Majorca (1999), Azores (2000)or Cagliari (2001), are systemati-cally abundant with regard to thisissue.

Declaration 30 on the islands,annexed to the Treaty of Amster-dam, meant the first step towardsrecognition for the singularity ofthe island factor in a broad rangeof aspects, among which energyoccupies an important place. Thisis a process in which the guide-lines of the well-known Viola re-port have made an important con-tribution, as has the report on theproblems of development in the

For more information:

OPET Website:European Commission

OPETMercosur

Roadshow

The European Island OPET col-laborated with the associated ini-tiative OPET Mercosur (ECLAC)in the development of a Roadshowheld in the cities of São Paulo,Brasilia, Buenos Aires and San-tiago of Chile, and aimed to thepromotion of new European en-ergy technologies in this part ofAmerica. The effort and impor-tance of this initiative is shown bythe 108 conferences given bypanelists, focusing on 24 differenttechnological niches related to en-ergy and transport, that were dis-tributed among the 4 events.

This initiative allowed a largedelegation of OPET network mem-bers developed strong contacts andcooperation agreements with themain actors of each country relatedwith new energy technology man-agement and development.

Within the context of Mercosur,Brazil should be considered as thecountry with major options for thefuture, mainly due to the broadpolitical and industrial supportgiven to the project, notwithstand-ing the common fact of its ex-tremely different and complex re-ality (this, owing mainly to itsgeographical size and to presentsocial, entrepreneurial and gov-ernmental differences). Renew-able energies, energy efficiencyand sustainable transport - all

under a CDM focus - sound likethe most promising sectors foreuropean technology.

Chile is a country with a goodoutlook, mainly due to its hightechnical level and seriousness ofthe professionals of the sector, butwith less potential in terms of ex-change volume. Natural gas end-uses, Waste-to-Energy andESCOs sound like the most prom-ising sectors for european tech-nology. Argentina, in spite of thecrisis, showed the big potentialexisting with regard to large-scaledeployment of renewables. In allthe countries has been confirmedthe great relevance and the needof technological disseminationactions carried out by mecha-nisms such as OPET, with par-ticular reference to the dissemi-nation of information betweenenergy advisers and consultantsassociated to electric and indus-trial companies.

Special attention was given toEuropean islands’ experiences, inview of their possibility of repli-cation in isolated regions, espe-cially in Southern Chile. As a mat-ter of fact, after the Roadshow rep-resentatives of Insula and Icaenheld several meetings with the lo-cal authorities and organisations ofRapa Nui (Easter Island), with theaim to cooperate in the develop-ment of a 100% RES project forthis island of the Pacific.

ultra-peripheral regions (FernandoFernández Martín report). Theformer highlights the need for com-munity policy on island regions tohelp promote the rational use ofenergy, along with a determined de-cision to opt for renewables, stress-ing the fact that tourism distortsthe energy balance of many islandsby up to 600%. The latter reportemphasises the proposal to attacha protocol to the Treaty, to clearlydefine a policy of support forrenewables, and even the develop-ment and promotion of legislativemeasures in this sense, for islands.

European islands have, there-fore, arrived at an important mo-ment in their evolution. Politicalwill, technological developmentand the terms of a sensible eco-nomic discourse based on sustain-able development make it advis-able to open the gates wide to thisgreat idea of energy self-suffi-ciency for islands in the new mil-lennium.

In Chania it was demonstratedthat there is still an enormous areato develop. After this Conferencewe can state that technologicaland political cooperation betweenislands will produce in the nextyears a high number of actual100% RES projects, following thetrail of those already started.

Within the framework of the100% RES strategy for Renew-able Energy Promotion in islandterritories set at Chania, a secondConference, dealing with the spe-cific aspect of the water-energybinomial on islands was held atSassari, in Sardinia.

Energia e Acquanelle IsoleCi

Energy and Water on Islands

The Conference was organisedby the "Punto de EnergíaProvincia di Sassari" (MultissS.p.A.), under the direction of Dr.A. Rassu, and the University ofSassari, realying on the supportof EI OPET and other organisa-tions such as FAST, ADEME,ICAEN, ANCIM and ENEA, be-side the active participation of allthe European Island OPET Con-sortium.

The European programmesdealing with this subject wereanalysed, together with nationalinitiatives among which the Ital-ian National Programmes andtheir application to renewable en-ergies deployment in small islandsstood out for its large scope andimportance. This aspect was de-veloped and deeply dealt by theproposals and initiatives carried

out by ANCIM. The Europeanprogrammes were equally com-pared with the actions driven bythe Small Island DevelopingStates, whose strategy was ex-plained by Mr Ronneberg ofSIDS-UN.

Within the specific field ofRES-desalination solutions, theexperiences of Rhodes explainedby NTUA, the hybrid systemsexperimented by ITC in the Ca-nary Islands, the projects ofENEA, Hidrowatt-CASSA andConsortium 21 of Sardinia werecompared with the aim to findnew alliances. All cases stressedthe technological maturity andhigh degree of efficiency avail-able in all desalination projectsbased on renewable energies,with costs that start to be reallycompetitive. A good example was

G. Galván of ITER (Institute of Technologyand Renewable Energies – EI-OPET), hadthe opportunity to present to the Island com-munity the new software 100% RES on is-lands, thought as a basic tool for economicand technological decision-making for re-newable energies planning and their inci-dence on new options of water production.

S. Sannitu Counsellor of Environment– Sassari Province, chairing one of theConference sessions.

Eng. Franco Cavallaro (ANCIM – EI-OPET)during the debate about small Italian is-lands’ initiatives.

J. M. Melim Mendes of AREAM (EuropeanIsland OPET) explaining the insular con-text for a favourable development ofrenewables and the particular case ofPorto Santo as a model.

SardiniaNovember 22-24, 2001

given by J.M. Melim Mendes ofAREAM, about the small islandof Porto Santo in the Madeira ar-chipelago, an island with scarcityof water submitted to big sea-sonal variations in tourism de-mand.

In the final session an outstand-ing message of political commit-ment was launched by M. Segni,Member of the European Parlia-ment, jointly with Insula's repre-sentative, summarising the mainobjectives of future cooperation.

Cipriano Marin. Santiago (Chile)

The island of Lanzarote hostedthis meeting that allowed consoli-dating a new co-operation nodebetween the renewable energysector and the tourism industry onislands. This aspect is of greatsignificance, as it is contradictorythat, while large-scale use of re-newable energies on many Euro-pean islands, as well as genera-tion of new projects, experienceda big growth in the last years, thetourist sector records the lowestinterest for the implementation ofnew energy technologies.

In spite of that, the tourist sec-tor is without any doubt one ofthe better market niches for fieldapplication of new energy tech-nologies, including transport andthe energy efficiency areas. We donot have to forget that island des-tinations of Southern and Ultra-peripheral Europe alone sum upto more than 4 million interna-tional arrivals per year, with ahotel capacity higher than 1.5 Mbeds. Furthermore, it is a grow-ing sector at present and touristeconomies are very sensible toinnovation in the framework ofthe new quality policies estab-lished for destinations.

The conference, structuredthrough thematic workshops, wasorganised by the European IslandOPET with the support of the au-thorities of the Canary IslandsGovernment, of the local admin-istrations of tourist municipalitiesand of the Institute of Responsi-ble Tourism. It relied on the par-

Lanzarote 2001Launching of the

Tourism Tech-Island Forum

ticipation of more than 100 rep-resentatives of hotel chains andgroups, the building sector, islandand international tourist associa-tions and the renewable energiessector.

Among the most important as-pects of the cooperation conclu-sions arisen in the different work-shops, it is worth mentioning thatthe hotel sector is indeed sensi-tised with regard to RES+RUEinnovation, although it still existssome lack of specialised informa-tion, and the main problem lies inthe engineering, architecture andconsulting companies, to whichthe tourist sectors rely on.

Karen Fletcher, of the Interna-tional Hotel Environment Initia-tive, an organisation supportingthe Forum, pointed up importanceof supplying maintenance manag-ers and directors with control andfollow-up tools and instruments(software), in order to establishenergy saving and efficiency poli-cies. In this sense it was empha-sised the promotion of the HotelBenchmarking Tool.

The Institute of ResponsibleTourism remarked in variousworkshops the achievements inthe use of quality labels and eco-labels of destinations and estab-lishments as innovation factors infavour of renewables. On this re-gard, the experience of the Bio-sphere Hotels International Net-work certainly is an exemplaryachievement for the consolidationof the Forum, as it brings the nec-

essary reference projects withinthe sector.

The utilities insisted in the needto deepen in the relationship be-tween RET and desalinated waterproduction, that in some island des-tinations turns to be an essentialfactor that limits development. Fi-nally, tourist municipalities havebeen those who pressed most on theneed to establish projects of cleantransports since this is one of themost efficient measures for thequalification of these destinations.

The meeting Lanzarote 2001brought to the consolidation of theTech Island Tourism Forum withaccurate objectives aiming:• to exchange experiences about

environment and sustainability

Press Conference offered by the CanaryIslands' authority with the participation ofEI-OPET and the representative of the deInternational Environment Hotel Initiative.

• to promote programs of REtechnological innovation forsustainability in the hotel estab-lishments

• to promote combined actions ofhotels and local authorities withcompetition as regards equip-ment, services and tourism.

• to discover state of the art eco-efficient technologies in the is-lands' tourist sector.

• to open communication chan-nels between main decision-makers: hotel managers, tour-ist associations and operators,local authorities, manufactur-ers, service providers, consult-ants, engineers and architects,research and development insti-tutes.

• to exchange experiences be-tween island destinations.

• to identify demonstrationprojects.

Opening session of the Workshop, chaired by the Canary Island’s Ministers of Tourism and of Environment. With the presence ofmembers of the European Island OPET, of the IRT, ITC and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology.

in the tourist sector, mainly inhotel establishments.

• to exchange the results data ofpractical applications for thetourist sustainability in the ho-tel establishments those andtourist destinations.

Within the framework of the ac-tions of cooperation with otherOPETs, that include the promo-tion of 100% RES strategy forthe Lakshadweep archipelago,

Michel Caillouet, Ambassador-Head ofDelegation, European Commission, deliv-ering the Inaugural Address

Conference 'Powerfrom Renewables'

New Delhi, 1-2 April 2002

the European Island OPET par-ticipated in the New Delhi Con-ference.

This Conference was marked bytwo complementary perspectives

describing the renewable energy(RE) power scenarios in India andthe European Union (EU).

In the several sessions partici-pants were shown the possibili-ties of RET promotion in insularterritories, as well as capabilityto replicate projects, particularlythrough the experience of the Eu-ropean Island OPET andADEME.

Cipriano Marin Cabrera gavehis contribution as European Is-land OPET. Different scenarioswere envisaged, comparing con-ventional with RE sources. Suc-cessful examples of 100% RES

initiatives are Madeira, Samsoe,Guadeloupe, El Hierro or Gotland.The presentation 'Decentralizedelectricity: the French Experience'of Dr. F. Juquois (ADEME,France), revealed that withinFrance and the neighbouringFrench-occupied islands,ADEME, in collaboration withEDF (the French utility), had beenvery successful in electrifying ru-ral areas. The main objectives ofthe Future French programmes areto encourage building-integratedphotovoltaics (BIPV), promote de-mand side management (DSM)and reduce costs.

The case of the Lakshadweep is-lands was dealt taking into ac-count the European experiencesabout large-scale implementationof RES.

Workshop on Sustainable Tourism and New TechnologiesAn action in favour to a generalised use of

renewable energy sources in the tourist sector

Within the framework of theOPET network’s international co-operation, the action lead by TERI(India), in which participate theADEME and the European IslandOPET, regarding the developmentof a 100% RES initiative in theLakshadweep islands stands out.

The Lakshadweep group of is-lands in the Arabian Sea is one ofthe two major groups of islandsin India, the other being theAndaman & Nicobar chain in theBay of Bengal. Lakshadweepconsists of 10 small and mediumsized inhabited islands and sev-eral uninhabited ones, about 400km off the south-west coast ofmainland India. All the coral is-lands are low-lying and coveredwith coconut palms.

The main occupations are fish-ing, fish processing and tourism.Fish is dried on open fires inwhich parts of the coconut tree areburnt. “Maas”, as this dried fishis called, is exported from the is-lands. Tourism is being developedin a very controlled way so thatthe fragile ecological balance inthe islands is not disturbed. For-eign tourists are allowed to visitonly one island while four islandsare open for Indian tourists.

Tourism, together with chang-ing life-styles and the rise of newenergy needs, has nearly doubledthe electricity consumption. Mainislands like Kavaratti andMinicoy have experienced nearlya triplication in consumption.

Electricity generation is mainlyfrom diesel generation sets butseveral renewable technologieshave also been tried out. The die-sel fuel is carried to the islandfrom the mainland in 200 liter oildrums and stocked at the power

Action planLakshadweep islands 100% RES

plants. Under these conditions,and with a capacity of 9MW in-stalled, the RES option is morethan reasonable.

Renewable energy devices triedout so far include three small windgenerators, a biogas plant and SPVpower plants. The wind generatorswere a dismal failure because theydid not work for very long. Theexperience with SPV power plantswas more satisfactory and once the750 kWp sanctioned last year isinstalled, the total SPV capacitywill exceed 1 MWp.

Biomass from coconut treesavailable for utilisation ingasifiers to generate electricityhas been estimated from the totalcoconut production by subtract-ing the amount used for smokingfish and the amount that will dis-place the kerosene presently usedfor cooking. More than 38 tonsof biomass is available every yearfor generating electricity. Thisquantity of biomass can generate18.8 million kWh of electricity/yr, which is the double of totalelectricity consumption of all theislands in 2000-01. Therefore,there is sufficient biomass avail-able to meet the electricity re-quirement of all the inhabited is-lands in Lakshadweep. Work oninstallation of 250 KW biomassgasifier that will be running on theabove wastes from coconut isnearing completion at Kavaratti.

The solar, wind and biomassresources have been quantifiedand two different hybrid systemshave been chosen for the smalland big islands. The systems be-ing considered include wind gen-erators, SPV arrays, biomassgasifier based IC engine-genera-tors and hybrid systems consist-

ing of two or more of the abovetogether with battery banks andpower conversions systems wher-ever applicable. Thermal applica-tions of gasifiers are being con-sidered to increase the efficiencyof utilisation of biomass presentlyburnt in open fires.

After investigating possible tech-nical solutions for providing elec-tricity on the Lakshadweep islandsfrom renewable energy sources,two different solutions are emerg-ing, one for the big islands andanother for the small islands. Bothsystems utilise the diesel genera-tion set for back-up, so a biomassgasifier to displace as much of thediesel fuel oil as possible is relevantfor both systems.

Wind-SPV-Diesel Hybrid sys-tem systems are ideal for thesmaller islands like Bitra andBangaram where the total DG setcapacity may be less than 100kW. The system includes a bat-tery bank for storage and an in-verter for converting the DC toAC. The wind generators used inthese systems are mostly perma-nent magnet alternators made forbattery charging. The invertersare bi-directional and can alsocharge the battery from the ACsource available. Commerciallyavailable inverters for hybrid sys-tems are fairly intelligent and canperform all the functions of thecontrol system.

For the larger islands havingDG power plant capacities of afew hundred kilowatts to mega-watts, the SPV array and batterybank, which are the most expen-

sive items, are best avoided. Forthese islands the best option is apure Wind-Diesel hybrid. Thewind generators used in such sys-tems are standard induction ma-chines connected to the AC busof the DG power plant. To switchoff the diesel generation setswhenever there is sufficient windspeed, and maintain grid stabil-ity, a supervisory control systemis essential. However, very fewwind-diesel control systems arecommercially available and theyare extremely expensive. There-fore TERI is presently working onthe development of a supervisorywind-diesel control system forsuch applications.

Most of the gasifiers installedin India are for thermal applica-tions like drying, etc. but electric-ity generation has also been triedout at several places including one100 kW system at the AndamanIslands. There are several manu-facturers of biomass gasifiers,and substitution of diesel up to70% is easily achievable atpresent. However, problems arestill being solved and the technol-ogy continues to mature.

Since the diesel engine genera-tor is a part of both hybrid sys-tems and ensures the reliabilityand autonomy of the systems,eliminating diesel consumptionwill be the most challenging partof any strategy to introduce 100%RES on the Lakshadweep islands.Research and development workis going on at several centers inIndia to run a diesel engine on100% gas, and it is expected thatsuch systems will be availablecommercially within the next 2 to3 years. Thermal applications ofgasifiers will be used to improvethe efficiency of utilisation ofbiomass for drying fish. The pro-ducer gas from the gasifier willbe burned in high-efficiency burn-ers. It is estimated that the con-

sumption of biomass for heat willreduce by at least half if gasifiersare used for heating.

All the above conditions allowestimating that the Lakshadweepsystem can be an excellent 100%RES model with multiple vari-ables of hybrid systems, a workstarted by TERI jointly withADEME and the participation ofInsula.

On 31 May 2001, at a meetingin New Delhi, the Lakshadweepgovernment has declared their in-tention to change over to 100%RES during the next ‘5-yearplan’. An Action Plan for intro-ducing the RES solutions on theislands in a phased manner is be-ing developed by TERI jointlywith the Lakshadweep ElectricityDepartment. The Action Plan willaim at 100% RES in all theLakshadweep islands by the year2005.

Lakshadweep

Information freely extracted from thework of :Dr. VVN Kishore K Raghavan,Tata Energy Research Institute

Contacts for the Lakshadweep projectP. Chakravarty, Ph.DFellow & Area ConvenorCentre for Renewable Energy& Environmental StudiesTata Energy Research InstituteSouthern Regional Centre4th Main, 2nd cross, Domlur II StageBangalore - 560071INDIApurandar@teri.res.in

The ICAEN (Institut Catalád'Energia)-OPET CRONOS, incooperation with the European Is-land OPET,launched a sensitisation campaignaimed to promote renewable en-ergies in the tourist sector on is-lands that have been declared"Biosphere Reserves" by theUNESCO.

In this first phase the campaignis centred on the islands of Mi-norca, Lanzarote, El Hierro,Galapagos and Guadeloupe, andrelies on the support of local gov-ernments and associations. Inthese emblematic island territo-ries, commitment for a tourismsustainable development startedto forge important projects in the

A new Sun for Biosphere IslandsSolar Campaign

fields of energy, water and wastemanagement.

This initiative involves a com-mitment with islands' tourist as-sociations and technology provid-ers in favour of the promotion ofa maximum use of renewables inthe sector. Their status of Bio-sphere Reserve give them an out-standing capacity of experiencedissemination through the Inter-national Biosphere Reserve Net-work made up by more than 350territories throughout the world.

The campaign was started inemblematic island destinations andhas the double aim to inform tour-ists in order they request lodgingand services complying with re-sponsible touriism's specificationsand at the same time to promoteRET incorporation in the touristsector, in agreement with hotelmanagers and local authorities.

Welcome to this IslandBiosphere Reserve ....Earth holds many beautiful places,excellent holiday destinations all, butdid you know that some of these idyl-lic spots have been designated byUNESCO as Biosphere Reserves?

Biosphere Reserves are placeswhose outstanding environmentalvalue and excellent state of conserva-tion make them veritable real-scale"laboratories" for sustainable develop-ment in which economic and socialprogress goes hand-in-hand with thepreservation and improvement of theirnatural and cultural heritage.

The objective of UNESCO's "islandbiosphere reserve" designation is noneother than to promote the commitmentto maintain and even improve this her-itage so that future generations cancontinue to enjoy it, providing supportfor experiences which can becomepoints of reference for other places allover the world.

A very special case amongst thisnetwork of privileged areas are certainislands which, besides their unique en-vironmental wealth, are also particu-larly vulnerable to environmentally-un-friendly human intervention. This is thecase, amongst others, of the islandsof Minorca, Lanzarote, Guadeloupe,Galapagos and Hierro.

All these islands have one particularpoint in common: tourism is the princi-pal economic activity on all of them. Forthis reason, the promotion of responsi-ble tourism is an absolute priority forachieving sustainable development andensuring their future conservation.

We should, therefore,promote responsibletourism...And just what does responsible tour-ism mean?

The answer is simple: it is touristactivity based, above all, on the follow-ing objectives:• Conserving the environment and

cultural heritage• Improving quality of life amongst the

host population• Ensuring maximum satisfaction of

tourists' expectations

It is obvious that tourist establish-ments of all kinds are called upon to playa leading role in the task of making thispossible. Hotels are particularly crucialto achieving the above aims, and shouldadopt as their own the principles andguidelines laid down in the "World Char-ter for Sustainable Tourism".

"Biosphere Hotels", adistinguishing ecolabelIt is important that tourist establish-ments and destinations should be com-mitted to achieving the goals of respon-sible tourism, but it is no less crucialthat potential users should be able torecognise them. It is to this end that theInstitute for Responsible Tourism, an or-ganisation linked to UNESCO, haslaunched the "Biosphere Hotels"ecolabel, whose technological part hasbeen developed in cooperation with theEuropean Island OPET. This distinctionis awarded to all those establishmentswhich adopt as an integral part of theiractivities measures concerning five ba-sic issues: saving resources, environ-mental efficiency, sustainability, culturalrespect and responsible marketing.

This means, for example, that estab-lishments undertake to adopt meas-ures for saving water and ensuringmaximum energy efficiency, makingthe greatest possible use of renewableenergy sources. Such establishmentsalso place maximum emphasis onminimising and recycling waste, con-trolling emissions and limiting noiseand other nuisances.

Moreover, buildings and facilitiesshould also comply with current envi-ronmental legislation and should be in-tegrated into the landscape.

Let's talk aboutrenewable energyIt is well-known to all that good energymanagement is crucial to sustainabledevelopment anywhere. In the case ofislands such as those mentioned here,it is an absolute priority, particularly inview of the fact that the possibilities forself-sufficiency based on use of the re-newable energies offer the ideal solu-tion. That is why a series of projects forthe promotion of renewable energieshave been developed, with the support

of different European Commission pro-grammes, on Minorca, Lanzarote andHierro (Spain), Guadeloupe (France)and the Galapagos (Ecuador). Needlessto say, all these initiatives are comple-mented by energy efficiency policies.

The projects carried out on these is-lands involve a range of different tech-nologies, from the use of wind power,photovoltaic electrification and solar airconditioning to waste management. Anaction common to all the islands is thedevelopment of solar thermal energyprojects in the hotel industry.

What can tourists do?By launching energy efficiency cam-paigns and prioritising the use of re-newable energy sources, local authori-ties play an important role in achiev-ing the goals of sustainable tourism.For their part, hotel managers canadopt energy saving policies and ap-ply technologies making maximum useof renewable energy sources at theirestablishments. Nonetheless, youshould remember that you, too, havea key role to play. Your action can helpto make all these initiatives truly effec-tive, contributing to a goal shared byall: that of conserving the local envi-ronmental wealth and cultural heritage.It is true that by choosing to spend theirholidays at hotels and establishmentswhich display the "Biosphere Hotels"label, visitors are already showing theirsupport for responsible tourism. None-theless, tourists can also actively con-tribute to environmental objectives bysaving water, minimising waste gen-eration, following the recommenda-tions of the local authorities and hotelestablishments to avoid energy wasteand, last but not least, showing maxi-mum respect for the conservation ofenvironmental and cultural heritage ontheir walks, trips and visits. Remem-ber, you are enjoying a legacy whichtook millions of years to build.

Sustainable Development and Re-sponsible Tourism can be achievedonly with everybody's help!

This text is part of the promotion campaign paimphet.

Presentation of the Cam-paign "A new sun for the is-lands". In the photo:Arthouros Zervos (Euro-pean Island OPET - RENES),Cipriano Marín (EIO),Mechtild Rothe (Member ofthe European Parliament),Mariangels Pérez Latorre(European Commission),Christoph Peters and AnnaGarriga (ICAEN).

Information display placed in the hotel re-ceptions

Poster in the Tourist InformationCentre of Lanzarote.

Information display placed in the hotel receptions.

EIO NEWSLETTEREdited by: Cipriano Marín

Editorial Board:Giuseppe OrlandoGuillermo GalvánFranco CavallaroAthouros ZervosJ.M. Melim Mendes

Graphic designer:Luis MirPrinted by: Tenydea S.L.

The campaign within the Minorca airport.

Revenues of local utilities on Islands (for conventional power) - Italy 1992

Source: A. Sorokin - Renewable Energies on Mediterranean Islands - Dec. 1996 - ENEL DSR

Enterprises € /KwhS.I.P.P.I.C.S.p.A.-Capri Napoli 0.182De Luca - Zagami - Società elettrica liparese S.n.c. - Lipari 0.106S.MED.E. Pantelleria S.p.a. Pantelleria 0.183S.EL.I.S. Lampedusa S.p.A. Lampedusa 0.195S.EL.I.S. Linosa S.p.A. - Linosa 0.422S.EL.I.S. Marettimo S.p.A. - Marettimo 0.540Società elettrica ponzese S.p.A. - Ponza 0.186S.I.E. - Società impianti elettrici S.r.l. - Giglio 0.249S.E.A. - Società elettrica di Favignana S.p.A. - Favignana 0.354Impresa elettrica D'Anna & Bonaccorsi S.n.c. - Ustica 0.249Imprese industrie elettriche Germano - Tremiti 0.278I.C.E.L. S.r.l. - Impresa Campo elettricità - Levanzo 0.505

The Mediterranean Sea extends fornearly two million square km, withalmost 300 million inhabitants.This basin as a whole includes 162islands (having at least 10 squarekm surface) and 4,000 smaller is-lands and islets, having less than10 square km: amounting to a sur-face of not more than 100,000 km2,with about ten million inhabitants,2/3 of which living in Sicily (5million) and Sardinia (1.6 million).If we leave out of consideration the15 widest islands as for surface(from Djierba with more than 530km2, up to Sicily with 25,462km2), the total surface of the smallislands in the Mediterranean Seareduces to 10% of the total value,amounting to about 10,000 km2

but counts only 5% population.In such a context, the Italian

smaller islands as a whole standout as for density, since their popu-lation is almost quadruple com-pared with the average: nearly170,000 inhabitants living in about900 km2 of territory, with a den-sity of some 190 inhabitants/km2.

For our purpose, it is useful tocompare these data with the stud-ies on the vitality and self-suffi-ciency of the smaller islands:• 50 inhabitants/km2 is the mini-

mum threshold in order to startup processes of self-sufficientdevelopment

• 350 inhabitants/km2 is themaximum threshold abovewhich congestion traces start.From recent data collected on

smaller Italian islands, it results:• a critical situation for Capraia

and Palmaria;• a well balanced situation for all

the islands whose population isaround 110-120 inhabitants.This subgroup, made up by 18islands, represents over the 70%of the whole surface of ItalianSmaller Islands, and about 44%of their population;

• Islands belonging to Pelagies andMaddalena show a higher den-sity than the average, due to theirdifferent destination, e.g. theirstrategic role and the same ac-tivities connected with Defense.

• Pontine islands (Ponza particu-larly) show values above thethreshold level, evidently due tothe high tourist activity linkedto their proximity andbarycentric position betweenthe two metropolitan areas ofRome and Naples.

• The islands in the Gulf of Na-ples have a density by far supe-rior to the threshold level typi-cal of congestion.

Power production in smaller is-lands is relatively recent; on largerislands it is assured by privatecompanies, while on smaller onesby ENEL (National Body for Elec-tric Energy). Several islands whichare close to the coast are connectedto the mainland grid (S. Antioco,S. Pietro, La Maddalena, Elba,Ischia, Capri and Procida).

Due to their present social-eco-nomic structure, population den-sity and energy consumption,smaller islands are not able todevelop a policy of energy self-sufficiency, and therefore com-pensative allowances become nec-essary. Transfers of compensatorysums in the energy sector arosefrom the existence of only onenational price to be paid by finalusers (Law of nationalization con-firmed by so-called the BersaniDecree) and from the consequentinstitution of balance funds to begranted to producers and distribu-tors working in isolated areas.

The value of the balance fundsis often higher that the value ofthe fossil primary source neces-sary to produce electric power,especially on smaller islands andwhere consumption is lower be-cause balance funds are tied to theneed of a peak power apart fromenergy, and therefore of plants.

The water cycle falls within theenergy sector because it is themain consumer of energy for thedesalination and moreover for thepumping of the aqueduct systemand of the sewerage and, finally,for water treatment. The case ofLipari is symbolic because thedesalinating plant alone consumesa quantity of energy amounting to2/3 of the basic consumption ofthe power generating plant thatsupplies the island.

• Producing costs of energy fromconventional sources in thesmaller Italian islands are muchhigher if compared to the sameproducing costs paid in themainland;

• Companies managing the serv-ice of production and distribu-tion of energy have a manage-ment deficit covered by fundsfixed by a special CIP sessionand agreed by the Industry De-partment. The funds are thenpaid by the Balance Fund forthe power sector;

• This deficit occurs because akWh is sold at the same priceas that one applied by the Na-tional Electric Body (about 0.16€ per kWh) on the whole na-

tional territory, ant this price isremarkably lower that the pro-ducing and distributing costssustained by the enterprises ofthe islands;

• The financial fund supplied bythe State serves the purpose offilling the gap caused by thetariffs and the real producingcosts sustained by the enter-prises of the islands;

Funds for the electric sector astariff supplement due to smallerelectric enterprises that have notbeen absorbed by ENEL, the fi-nal rate relative to the year 1991for each here under listed electricenterprises and for each kilowatt-hour is assessed as follows:

for the smaller enterprises, oper-ated by the Bersani decree, the ar-ticle 7 provides for the definitionof dispositions concerning thesmall isolated grids; this defini-tion will be controlled by the In-dustry Department following theproposals of the Energy author-ity;

The implementation of theserules could produce a definitechange in the management of tar-iff supplements and generally, inthe system of equal distributionnow carried out by the BalanceFund for the power sector. Everyreform intervention, will bepassed however with the agree-ment of the Industry Departmentand the Energy Authority.

The rules that are being estab-lished at national level, for instancedivision between electric powergenerating and electric power dis-tributing societies cannot be opti-mal for small realities. And alsoapplication of management tech-niques relative to the demand thatshould involve those responsiblefor all activities following the re-placed power meter cannot be eas-ily applied on local level, where theincomes of the society depend lesson the tariffs and more on the sub-sidies of the Balance Fund.

This problem must be dealt bythe Industry Department and theEnergy Authority, as foreseen bythe article 7 of the decree signedBersani on market liberalization;it is necessary to develop a modelof society working for the supplyof energy services, ESCO (EnergyService Company) able to work asa supplier dealing with increasedconsumptions in order to promoteEfficiency and Renewable Sourceswithout suffering damage.

As for financing energy invest-ments drawn from renewablesources, different models can beconsidered if referred to self-pro-ducers or to producers;

The most appropriate financingway must be therefore chosen ac-cording to the investment and itcan change, for instance, frommiddle-term financing granted toartisans or small enterprises. Forsmall producing plants it wouldbe advisable to resort to ESCOas promoter and developer and to"Third Party Financing".

Among the most appropriateforms of financial intervention thereare the contributions in sunk capi-tal account, the recognition of tar-iff integrations, the co-financing andinterventions and/or contributionsin account management, or, particu-larly for renewable sources, the re-alization of plants able to take ad-vantage of incentives that are to becharged to all power consumers.Anyway it is agreed that withouta more efficient use of the sumstoday managed by different bal-ance mechanisms, there will notbe interventions having a goodstructural value. It is necessary toreconcile transparency, solidarityand entrepreneurship.

The Renewable EnergyMarket Framework for Small Italian Islands

• The tariff supplement system,being so conceived, has endedby favoring in disloyal way theproduction of conventionalsource energy, acting thereforeas barrier against the diffusionof the renewable ones;

• The recent liberalization of theenergy market has indirectlyinvolved only the smaller elec-tric enterprises, without chang-ing their status defined at thetime when the nationalization ofthe sector occurred;

• The implementation of somenorms contained in the reformand in the relative rules couldcause great changes in the man-agement of tariff supplementsand in the system of equal dis-tribution.

Power sector regulations havebeen modified by the legislativedecree n. 79/99 (the above men-tioned "Bersani decree") that hasimplemented the community di-rective 96/92/CE. The reform op-erated by the Bersani decree hasindirectly involved only thesmaller electric enterprises. Theirstatus, defined at the time whenthe nationalization of the sectoroccurred, has not been modified.Among the relevant interventions

In the light of the present of thepower market changes, ANCIM(Associazione Italiana ComuniIsole Minori)-OPET has proposedto the Industry Department anagreement in order to take meas-ures able to reform the BalanceFund. Such an agreement aims toregulate an economic-financial tool,supporting the smaller electric en-terprises, at guaranteeing, exploit-ing and stimulating the use of re-newable energy sources, in order togain energy self-sufficiency throughthe realization of wind, geothermic,solar thermal and photovoltaic sys-tems, thermal cells and biomassaccording to the case.

F. Cavallaro (ANCIM)

INSULA, International ScientificCouncil for Island DevelopmentCo-ordinator: Cipriano Marinc/o UNESCO, 1 rue Miollis. F-75015 Paris. FRANCEContact: Cipriano MarinTel.:+33-1 45684056 Fax: +33-1 45685804E-mail: c.marin@insula.org

ITER, Instituto de Tecnologíay Energías RenovablesPoligono Industrial de Granadilla - Parque EólicoE-38611 San Isidro - Tenerife. SPAINContact: Manuel CendagortaTel.:+34-922 391000 Fax: +34-922 391001E-mail: iter@iter.rcanaria.es

NTUA-RENES, NationalTechnical University of Athens9, Heroon Polytechniou Str.GR-15780 Zografu-Athens. GREECEContact: Arthouros ZervosTel.:+30-1 7721030 Fax: +30-1 7721047E-mail: Zervos@fluid.mech.ntua.gr

AREAM, Agencia Regional daEnergia e Ambiente daRegião Autonoma da MadeiraMadeira Tecnopolo.P-9000-390 Funchal. PORTUGALContact: José Manuel Melim MendesTel.:+351-291723300 Fax:+351-291720033E-mail: aream@mail.telepac.pt

ANCIM, AssociazioneNazionale Comuni Isole MinoriVia dei Prefetti 46. I-00186 Roma. ITALY

The OPET Network (Or-ganisation for the Promotionof Energy Technologies) is aninitiative of the EuropeanCommission, whose aim is todisseminate information onnew innovative energy tech-nologies and promote the ben-efits deriving from them.These energy technologiescover the areas of renewableenergy sources and rationaluse of energy in industry,buildings and transport.

HOW CAN THE EUROPEAN ISLAND OPET HELP YOU?• Qualified energy technology expertise for solution of technical RES problems.• Organisation of workshops and conferences on sustainable energy technologies.• Consultations on energy matters and pre-feasibility studies on conversion to renewably energy sources.• Assistance in planning and implementation of energy pilot and demonstration projects.• Dissemination of information on successful RES projects, especially 100% RES initiatives.• Access to energy reports and the energy know-how in European islands.• Assistance related to the preparation of project proposals to energy programmes.• Market evaluations.• Information and advice centre for islands companies and public institutions on EU-support pro-

grammes in the energy sector.• Contacts to manufacturers and suppliers.• Exchange of experience and technological transfer between islands.• Reinforce dedicated renewable energy information systems for islands.

A.N.C.I.M.

The network aims to promote awider use of new and innovativeEuropean energy technologies,based on a wide range of realisedprojects.

The OPET Network is managedby the EC's DG TREN (Transport& Energy). Eight OPET Associ-ates have been selected, coveringthe following regions: China, LatinAmerica, South Africa, the Cau-casus, Russia and the Black SeaRegion. These organisations orconsortia will work with the

EUROPEAN ISLAND OPET CONSORTIUM

Contact: Franco CavallaroTel.:+39-090 361967 Fax: +39-090 343828E-mail: frcavall@tin.it

HIIU MAAVALITSUS,Hiiumaa County GovernmentDepartment of Regional DevelopmentLeigri väljak 5, Kärdla 92401, Hiiumaa. ESTONIAContact: Reet KokovkinTel.:+37 246 31132 Fax: +37 246 31089E-mail: reet@mv.hiiumaa.ee

The international actions aredeveloped in cooperation with:

OPET Portugal. ISTContact: Ana PipioE-mail: anapipio@ist.utl.pt

OPET CyprusApplied Energy CentreContact: Ioannis ChryssisE-mail: mcienerg@cytanet.com.cy

OPET Cronos (FAST)Contact: Rosaria GandolfiE-mail: Rosaria.Gandolfi@fast.mi.it

ADEMEAgence de l'Environnement etde la Maitrise de l'EnergieContact: René CornandE-mail: Rene.Cornand@ademe.fr

ICAEN, Institut Catalá d’EnergiaContact: Daniel SatueE-mail: estudis@icaen.es

OPETs to promote technologytransfer and the exploitation ofresearch results in their regions.

The European Island OPETparticipates in this network withthe aim to promote the maxi-mum implementation of sus-tainable energy technologies inthe European islands. One of themain objectives of the EIO con-sortium is to overcome the bar-riers that hinder a full integra-tion and exploitation of renew-able energy sources on islands.

HIIUMAAVALITSUS

WHAT IS THE OPET NETWORK?

winds for the future

"Energy efficiency, energy savings anduse of renewables are an important partof creating an environmentally sustain-able development on the island. A lotof experience can be transferred in thisfield". (B7 Baltic Islands group strategy).

Since 1989 the largest islands in theBaltic Sea have formed a common in-terest group, "The Islands of the BalticSea". The islands that have been in-volved from the beginning are Bornholm(Denmark), Gotland (Sweden), Hiiumaa(Estonia), Saaremaa (Estonia), Åland(Finland), and Öland (Sweden), Rügen(Germany). The geographic position ofthe islands, in the middle of the BalticSea, made them especially aware of theemerging new opportunities, promptingthe commencement of collaborationbetween the islands.

In 1994 political leaders of the islandssigned the co-operation agreementcalled Baltic Sea Seven Islands (B7).Altogether-B7 represents 300.000 in-habitants in the Baltic Sea.

In 1995-1996 the seven Baltic Seaislands had jointly compiled a programof action: The Baltic Sea Islands - acommon strategy for the future. Theaim of the program was to increase theBaltic Sea islands' possibilities of uti-lising their development potential. Theoverall goal in the common strategy ofaction was to create the basis for morejobs a long-term sustainable develop-ment, as well as mutual enrichment ofthe islands and the world around them.In the beginning of 2001 the Strategy

Group of B7 was once again formed.A Strategy for the Future. 2002-2006is the headline of the new strategy un-der elaboration.

The long-term vision for the islandsis explained as to approaching a richer,smarter and happier population. Theyare also more in control of their owndestiny than in year 2001. Therefore thepriorities of the B7 islands' co-opera-tion are: Transport, Education, Tourism,Environment and Renewable Energy,Business Development, ICT (Informa-tion & Communication Technologies),Democracy, inter-regional understand-ing, networking, Rural and Agro-busi-ness Development, Healthcare, PublicService Effectiveness, Common History.

Reet Kokovkin,member of the B7 Board, Hiiumaa

is always cold - no matter what direc-tion it blows from," were the wisewords of wisdom used to match witswith fellow sailors.

At the end of the last century over500 windmills ground the island'sgrain. The ten or so that remain stand-ing today are now museum pieces. Butthe wind rages on. In the second halfof the 1980s the islanders found outabout the wind-powered generatorsthat had become fashionable in theWest, and they wanted one of theirown. Ten years later, with help from theDanish Environmental Agency and theEstonian Fund for the Environment onTahkuna Point, that wish came true andthe island installed the first wind-pow-ered generator in all of Estonia. As isthe custom with all new things on theisland, the new generator was given aname: White Angel. (Ingel, meaning'angel', is also a popular girl's name onthe island of Hiiumaa.)

The next wind generators will bebrought to the island on a commercialbasis, when and if the business plansshow they can earn their keep. In themeantime, the island's entire energysystem is being closely examined. Fol-lowing the example of Denmark'sSamso Island, some specialists wantto put together a ten-year strategy formaking Hiiumaa a renewable energyisland. Other options, in addition to windpower, are also being considered: con-servation of energy and reconstructionof buildings, biomass as a possible fur-nace fuel, use of solar energy, the po-tential of electric energy, etc.

Ruuben PostManaging director of the Hiiumaa

Centre of the Archipelago BiosphereReserve of Western Estonia

B7-A Strategyfor the Future

2002 - 2006

The Samsoe island experience is a basicreference for the development of 100%RES initiatives in Hiiumaa.

The WindAlways Wins"Even a hiidlane can't win against thewind," island men would say whilestruggling with their sails on a stormysea. This work was done and done wellby many a generation - on foreignships, in schooners and the beautifultall ships they themselves built onthese very island beaches. "The north

Energy, Environment,Sustainable development