The Island Movement organized a visit to the island of Korcula from October 14 to 16 and as a part of the visit organized a workshop on solar energy
From October 14 to 16, we organized a business visit to Korčula as part of the ISLET project, financed from the LIFE program, to present the possibility of establishing energy communities. In this project, Korčula is recognized as the so-called “follower island,” where the first energy community will be established next year. This step represents a significant opportunity for the island, and our visit aimed to exchange information and strengthen cooperation with local stakeholders.
The key actors
During our stay, we held meetings with key actors, including Ivica Martinović, director of the KORA development agency, Katarina Slejko, head of the LAG, Vjeran Filippi, president of the LAG, representatives of the Municipality of Vela Luka, and representatives of the business incubator.
At the meetings, we presented the current activities of the ISLET project. We gave detailed information about the establishment of energy communities, with special emphasis on the challenges that LGUs (local self-government units) have due to protected city cores. We pointed out that energy communities can be a solution for sharing energy and strengthening citizens’ participation in the energy transition.
We paid special attention to the activities related to the changes in the law that are necessary to support these processes, and the participants of the meetings showed a high interest in further information and involvement in development activities. Namely, everyone recognized energy communities as an ideal tool for encouraging greater involvement of citizens and more active participation in the energy transition.
A workshop on the future of solar energy on the islands
At the end of the visit, in cooperation with the Municipality of Vela Luka, we organized a workshop for citizens called “The Future of Solar Energy on the Islands”. The workshop was attended by about twenty interested citizens, who attentively followed the two-hour education led by Ivan Zoković and Maja Jurišić.
The workshop discussed all aspects of the development of solar power plants, from the creation of project documentation, sizing, self-supply models, calculations, and technologies, to available sources of co-financing. The citizens asked numerous questions, and the interest in participating in the energy transition was extremely high, which confirms that the islanders are ready to use the solar potential and expand the existing capacities of solar power plants.
The ISLET project
This visit clearly showed that the energy transition on the islands has momentum and that citizens are increasingly informed and motivated to actively participate in it.
The ISLET project is an initiative that aims to support the transition of European islands to clean energy, with a focus on strengthening local communities through the establishment and management of energy communities. The project uses innovative approaches to increase the island’s energy independence and improve the quality of life of residents through the sustainable use of local renewable resources.
The ISLET project was financed by the LIFE program.