Illustration : Dana Tentis, Pexels
Innovative Supporting schemes for community-Led Energy Transition (ISLET) aims at supporting the collaboration between public authorities, private investors, and citizens in order to develop renewable energy communities with an integrated approach to facilitate the emergence and growth of renewable community energy projects on Mediterranean small islands.
The project focuses on improving the technical structures and capabilities of local governments to reach their goals. The next step is fostering good communication and teamwork between local and national governments, along with active citizen participation. These are essential for making progress in reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainability.
The ISLET project will:
- Strengthen the abilities of local governments on small Mediterranean islands to facilitate and support Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), while increasing public participation in these initiatives;
- Foster collaboration between various levels of government and citizens in the planning and implementation of community-led energy projects;
- Equip key stakeholders with the training and resources needed to effectively engage the community in the transition to renewable energy, using public resources and creating a supportive local policy framework for RECs;
- Provide a model of successful REC creation process and establish a comprehensive knowledge base about renewable energy and relevant laws, helping both local authorities and citizens make informed decisions;
- Evaluate the impact of citizen-led projects on reducing carbon emissions and create a peer-to-peer support network for island municipalities to share best practices in building RECs.
The ISLET project is co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Union.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.