EU project ISLANDERPaving the Way for Smart Energy Islands in Europe - Borkum served as pilot site for replication

After five years of collaborative work, the European research project ISLANDER, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme, has officially come to an end. The project aimed to accelerate the decarbonisation of European islands and strengthen their energy independence.

Led by AYESA, the consortium brought together 11 partners from seven European countries, including research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large companies, with the goal of developing and implementing innovative technologies tailored to the specific needs of island environments. The German island of Borkum served as the pilot site for the deployment of smart energy systems, renewable technologies, citizen engagement strategies, as well as software platforms and mobile applications. Beyond Borkum, the project laid the foundation for replicating these approaches on four so-called Follower Islands: Cres (Croatia), Lefkada and Skopelos (Greece), and Orkney (United Kingdom), as well as their associated archipelagos. On September 24th, 2025, the ISLANDER consortium held its final event online to present and reflect on the project’s outcomes.

Project Achievements

Throughout the ISLANDER project, partners have demonstrated how integrated smart energy solutions can transform island energy systems, making them more resilient, efficient and carbon-neutral. The project focused on developing and implementing a smart energy management system that aggregates  and optimises distributed energy resources and hybrid energy storage systems.

Key accomplishments of the project include:

• Smart Energy Management: Creation of a Smart IT platform that optimises the operation of distributed energy resources and hybrid storage, thereby improving energy efficiency and grid stability. Moreover, an mobile app was developed to allow citizen to participate in the process of decabornization

• Renewable Energy Integration: Deployment of decentralised solar PV systems combined with energy storage in 30 households and three buildings on Borkum, alongside the implementation of a district heating network that uses marine thermal energy.

• Innovative Storage Solutions: Introduction of hybrid energy storage technologies, including hydrogen storage, lithium-ion batteries, and ultracapacitors.

• Electromobility Integration: Installation of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging station to enhance grid flexibility and support the integration of renewable energy.

• Citizen Engagement: Establishment of the Borkum Energy Community, empowering residents to actively participate in the island’s energy transition and fostering local ownership.

Part of the seawater district heating system, installed on Borkum

The project’s efforts have contributed directly to Borkum’s ‘Borkum 2030+’ vision: a comprehensive strategy for the island to become sustainable, climate-neutral and emission-free by 2030. This will be achieved by ensuring that all energy used in the electricity, heating and mobility sectors is CO₂-free.

Impact and Replicability

The ISLANDER project has paved the way for replicating its solutions on other European islands, beginning with its four follower islands and expanding to neighboring archipelagos. Detailed replication plans were developed for each island, evaluating the local potential for implementing the technologies tested on Borkum. The process was strengthened by close engagement with local stakeholders, ensuring that the solutions align with local needs and increasing the likelihood of successful adoption. The lessons learned from the pilot demonstrations have been compiled into practical recommendations to support wider uptake and pave the way for the future market deployment of ISLANDER technologies.

Outlook

Although the ISLANDER project has officially concluded, the consortium partners remain committed to supporting the decarbonisation of islands across Europe and beyond. The tools, technologies, and methodologies developed during the project will continue to be refined and shared, helping regions move towards climate-neutral energy systems.

Support of Steinbeis Europa Zentrum for Borkum

Together with Nordseeheilbad GmbH Borkum (NBG), Steinbeis Europa Zentrum has supported the establishment of an energy community on Borkum as part of the ISLANDER project. The tasks included the planning and implementation of information workshops as well as support in the development of a pilot project and the creation of a business plan. The aim was clear: the people of Borkum should play an active part in the energy transition and take local energy production directly into their own hands. The cooperative named ‘Energiewelle Borkum eG’ was founded on 8 March 2025 in Borkum.

Read more: Steinbeis Europa Zentrum supports the establishment of an energy community on Borkum - Steinbeis EN

For more information and access to project reports, visit: https://islander-project.eu.