ISLANDER in a nutshell

ISLANDER paves the way for the decarbonization of EU islands’ energy systems by demonstrating smart grid solutions combining renewable energy production with storage technologies in real-life settings. Starting with the Pilot island of Borkum, the project aims at replicating these solutions to 4 Follower Islands. The objectives of ISLANDER are as follows:

• The development of an advanced smart IT platform using latest mathematical optimisation techniques, and which will flexibly manage Distributed Energy Resources (DER) coupled with Hybrid Energy Storage (HES) while also incorporating Demand Response (DR) and Local Power Balancing (LPB). This will provide a powerful approach to make the most of the renewable generation, to interconnect the electrical and heat grids, and to enhance the stability of the island’s power network.

• The development of an improved multi-scale forecasting methodology relying on comprehensive modelling of demand and supply and on the recent advances of machine learning, in order to deliver high-accuracy forecasting data at the multiple levels required by the optimisation algorithms running the smart IT platform.

• The development of a methodology for the large-scale design of optimal distributed DER+HES systems which, in combination with the planned smart IT platform, will optimise investment and operation costs to reach and even, surpass cost parity with fossil fuel energy sources in the island.

• The facilitation of the creation of an energy community on Borkum, that empower local citizens to support and participate in Borkum’s energy transition.

• The replication of the ISLANDER results to the Follower islands and the associated archipelagos: the Scottish island of Orkney, the Greek islands of Skopelos and Lefkada, and the Croatian island of Cres.