Islands, as in most cases isolated electricity systems, have the potential to be excellent examples for the deployment of new technologies, for a system developed in a nutshell, to become a benchmark also on the continent. Unfortunately today, this is not the case. Islands, although some remarkable examples exist for smart grids and highly efficient technologies, are ignored by policy makers, are granted exemptions, rather than attention or support.
EURELECTRICs Network of Experts on Islands has been working on this issue for some time. A session of the 2012 EURELECTRIC Annual Convention, held in Malta on 4-5 June, was devoted to this issue, entitled "EU Islands - test beds for mainland integration". On the following day, 6 June, a more focussed workshop on the sustainable energy future for islands was held. A report was presented, and high level speakers presented best practice as well as requirements to be fulfilled in order to get islands from promise to practice- very much in the interest of the EU at large.
Registration for this event was free of charge due to the kind support of Enemalta.