New partnership to support renewable energy development on Baltic islands

The Baltic islands of Bornholm, Gotland and Åland have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to work together on easing the islands’ shift to sustainable energy.

According to Baltic Energy Island, the agreement focuses on the exchange of knowledge and the strengthening of local democratic engagement, recognizing the shared challenges and opportunities inherent in the journey towards renewable energy.

“The partnership is a starting point for a new network to help facilitate the full green transition which all three island communities face,” Baltic Energy Island said.

Søren Møller Christensen, CEO, Baltic Energy Island, commented: “The three islands are envisioning a future where they in a few years move from the periphery to the center of a new energy reality. The islands share the same challenge: figuring out how to navigate this new reality where the green transition is not just local but a central condition for the EU’s green transition and a goal for huge investments.”

“At Baltic Energy Island, we strongly believe in the necessity of collaboration for the success of the green transition and energy islands as a keystone for that success. We have been part of the initiative from the start and will actively contribute to developing collaboration between the three islands.”

Finland’s Flexens, involved in the green energy project on Åland, emphasized that the islands are ideal for marine-based energy generation, and they play a pivotal role in generating local economic value and have the potential to contribute significantly to Europe’s renewable energy supply.

To remind, at the end of 2023, Flexens, the Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Lhyfe formed a partnership to develop and construct an integrated energy island solution enabling large-scale green hydrogen and offshore wind production on Åland.

As for Gotland, in October 2023, OX2 and Nordkalk announced plans to jointly investigate the opportunities for the production of e-fuel on the island.

OX2 said the e-fuel can be used to replace fossil fuels in Nordkalk’s production or to refine the limestone to fertilization products. Moreover, it can be used for shipping and other industries, as well as to make Gotland a hub for green growth and development.

At the time, OX2 also noted that the company is developing large-scale offshore wind farms outside the island that can supply the electricity and hydrogen needed, adding that OX2 is active in the development of hydrogen infrastructure and is, among other things, a partner in the development of a hydrogen pipeline between Finland, Åland, Sweden and Germany.

Finally, in regard to Bornholm, a minimum of 3 GW of offshore wind is expected to be installed on the island, as well as established energy connections to Zealand and Germany.

Near the end of 2023, an EU-supported feasibility study, led by Port of Roenne and a number of local and national actors, revealed that there is a possibility of local power-to-X (PtX) production of green fuels on the island.