CPMR Islands Commission pioneering hydrogen technologies for islands’ energy transition
The past year, Hydrogen has quickly reached the top of the agenda as one of the most effective pathways to achieve energy independency, efficiency and decarbonization. The CPMR Islands Commission has hence broadened its activities in the field, cooperating with the FCH JU and promoting innovative hydrogen solutions.
Energy Transition is one of the highest priorities of the Islands Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions and its presidency, held by the Balearic Islands, host of the Green Hysland project. In particular, the Islands Commission (IC) promotes the role of islands in fulfilling the objectives set by the EU Green Deal, as pioneer territories to the development of innovative technologies.
Among our energy activities, we are part of the Horizon 2020, MAESHA project, aiming at decarbonising the energy systems of Mayotte, with replicability in 5 other EU islands, by fostering the deployment of renewable energy systems through the installation of tailored innovative flexibility services based on a close case study and modelling of local energy systems and communities. The project just celebrated its 1-year anniversary and will last until 2024.
Moreover, the Islands Commission has collaborated with the Pays de la Loire Region, pioneer in Marine Renewable Energies and Smart Grids, for a dedicated webinar on opportunities for islands, that gave way to the international forum on offshore energy, SEANERGY, last September, where a delegation from Balearic Islands represented the IC to discuss innovative technologies, including hydrogen, and implementation in islands.
Starting soon, the IC will be assisting ECORYS to implement the DG REGIO programme of exchanges on best practices and solutions to common challenges for climate change adaptation in Outermost Regions and their neighbouring countries up to mid-2023.
On 9th December, the Islands Commission co-organized an online event on “Shaping the Best Competitive Ports in EU Islands” with the CPMR Atlantic Commission and the Atlantic Smart Ports – Blue Acceleration Network. This event allowed the participants to exchange on the diversification of ports services and on the modernisation of ports infrastructures in islands. In this respect, emphasis was put on the potential of hydrogen to decarbonize islands ports thanks to a keynote presentation by Bart Biebuyck, Executive Director of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
In March 2022, the CPMR will organize a SEARICA Intergroup webinar on the implementation of the circular economy action plan in maritime and coastal regions, that should be hosted by the Insular MEP Josianne Cutajar with representatives from several Islands Commission members.
In the past year, the Islands Commission has deepened its partnership with the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, funder of the Green Hysland project and is happy to be part of the project’s H2 Hysland HUB. Hydrogen has quickly reached the top of the agenda for the EU as well as insular authorities as one of the most effective pathways to achieve energy independency, efficiency and decarbonization, that the islands Commission is committed to support.
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