LIFE ISLET Consortium Representatives Gathered on Gozo to Accelerate Energy Transition and Knowledge Exchange
Representatives of Pokret Otoka participated in the fifth consortium meeting of the LIFE ISLET project, held on the island of Gozo (Malta). Alongside Maja Jurišić and Ivan Zoković Ćola, the meeting was also attended by representatives of the City of Cres: Ugo Toić (OTRA), Mayor Marin Gregorović, and Franjo Toić (City of Cres), as well as many other partners.
Exchange of Experience Between Islands
The meeting was hosted by MIEMA (Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency), under the warm hospitality of Diane Cassar and Jesmond Xuereb. Other participating partner organisations included FEDARENE, Samsø Energiakademi, Legambiente, the DAFNI network, and representatives from the islands of Cres and Procida.
The main topics of discussion included:
- Review of progress on pilot and test islands and the exchange of experiences that can already be transferred to small Mediterranean islands – and beyond
- Comparison of national regulatory frameworks for the development of energy communities, with a focus on specific rules for small islands
- Identification of solutions that can be effectively transferred between different territories
Focus on Energy Sharing Models
Special attention was given to accelerating the practical implementation of energy sharing and community energy models. While most partner countries have relatively stable regulatory frameworks, in Croatia, partner teams and stakeholders are working together to accelerate the necessary improvements so that islands can soon benefit from local clean energy production and sharing.
Pokret Otoka presented field experiences, challenges, and best practices in working with local communities, municipalities, and island stakeholders. The role of Cres within the project further highlights the importance of cities and municipalities as key drivers of pilot projects that will enable citizens to actively participate in the transition through clear models of organisation, contracting, and benefit-sharing.
We would like to thank all partners for the constructive discussions and MIEMA for their excellent hospitality. Inspired by the beauty of Gozo and the wealth of knowledge we exchanged, we continue our joint efforts toward a faster and fairer energy transition for our islands.
Co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101120073.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.