An important activity of the ISLANDER project is to support the establishment of an energy community on the island of Borkum. Through this initiative, the project aims to empower local citizens to take an active role in shaping the island’s energy transition. By working together in an energy community, residents can pool their resources and together undertake larger, more sustainable projects that would be difficult to achieve individually. In this way, the people of Borkum can contribute to and benefit from the island’s energy transition.

First steps towards the creation of the Energy Community

The engagement process started with a workshop organised by the ISLANDER project in November 2023. During this event, participants were introduced to the concept, benefits and forms of an Energy Community and were updated on the planned energy transition on the island. A second workshop, held in February 2024, provided more detailed insights into the founding process. Cord Remke, Chairman of the Harpstedt Energy Cooperative, was invited as an expert to share his experiences with setting up an energy community. He provided a lot of interesting insights into developing a business model and managing the energy community.

From first ideas to concrete projects

Following the success of the first two workshops, which raised interest among Borkum’s residents, regular meetings were set up. These meetings, both in person and online, offered all interested citizens the opportunity to participate in the creation of the energy cooperative. A small group of committed citizens quickly formed, working together to develop and promote an initial project for the energy cooperative.

Starting with the basic idea of forming an energy community, the participants’ enthusiastic discussions and extensive research led to several concrete project ideas. Different objects were considered, meetings were held with key stakeholders and initial business models were created. This phase was crucial in refining the vision of a sustainable, community-led energy initiative on Borkum.

It quickly became clear that the initial focus of the energy community would be on solar energy, specifically the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels. These types of projects are relatively easy to implement and can be rolled out quickly. The search began for a building with suitable roof space and high energy consumption to make the most of the solar power generated. Several promising objects were identified and finally, one was selected as the cooperative’s pilot project. Further projects of great potential are planned for the years to come.

Alongside the development of the initial project and business plan, the legal structure of the Energy Community needed to be determined. The legal form of an energy cooperative was chosen because of its democratic participation, where each member has an equal say regardless of their financial contribution. The cooperative model fosters a more inclusive and collaborative environment by ensuring that the interests of the community are prioritised over profit. It is also consistent with the principles of sustainability and shared ownership, allowing members to actively participate in decision-making processes. Thanks to the support of the Weser-Ems Cooperative Association, a first draft of the cooperative’s statute was developed and a fitting name for the cooperative was chosen. This was a crucial step in establishing the legal foundation of the energy cooperative.

Looking Ahead

To formalise the establishment of the cooperative, a detailed business plan will be developed in the coming weeks. This plan will outline expected revenues, costs and other financial projections to ensure that the energy cooperative has a viable and sustainable business model.

The success of the energy cooperative will require more than just the commitment of its founding members. All Borkum residents will have the opportunity to participate by buying shares in the cooperative and helping to fund the first project. The regular meetings and active participation of the citizens of Borkum demonstrate the strong interest and commitment to a sustainable energy future. More information will follow in the coming months.