Islands are in the frontline for challenges of environment and resources – and for finding solutions. The Virtual Island Summit (7-13 September) is this week bringing together islands worldwide to share their experiences and stories of island innovation. We join them live with stories of development projects in several Orkney islands showing how communities can shape energy developments to solve problems.
You can hear about the development of community-owned turbines across Orkney, highlighted by the experiences of the communities in Stronsay and Shapinsay. We’ll hear how, through the SMILE project, Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre are collaborating with Samsö and Madeira on tackling the problems of grid constraints by managing smart demand to both increase local generation and value to community energy and create modern affordable heating. There’s news too of how the ReFLEX project is further developing intelligent local community approaches to energy use in order to deliver just and inclusive net-zero transition; here supporting electric community owned and managed transport and mobility sevices, in Hoy and Eday.
We’ll hear feedback direct from islands in various parts of the world including St Helena, Tierra Del Fuego, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Island Summit organiser James Ellsmoor will join Mark Hull, Community Energy Scotland’s Head of Innovation, in highlighting key points where Orkney examples can shine a light for island futures.
This event is being run in partnership with the Virtual Island Summit which is sharing it with island communities around the world.
In collaboration with Community Energy Scotland, Orkney Renewable Energy Forum, Island Innovation and Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters
You can watch this free event on the Island Innovation Facebook page. Alternatively, you can register for the Summit for free at www.virtualislandsummit.com, with the opportunity to learn from and share with other participants from islands worldwide.