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© 2025 Island Innovation. All rights reserved.

    News

    Curated stories and analysis from islands and sustainability leaders worldwide.

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    Showing 9 of 168 news items in Energy & Transport
    Renewable Island: Ireland marks a century of pioneering in clean energy
    Energy & TransportMay 21, 2026

    Renewable Island: Ireland marks a century of pioneering in clean energy

    Excerpt and Photo Credit from irishexaminer.com Since the commissioning of the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric plant in 1929, Ireland has a long history of commitment to investment in green energy Ireland’s leadership in renewable energy is not new. The commissioning of the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric plant in 1929 placed the State among the pioneers of large-scale renewable generation.  Nearly a century later, that legacy remains in operation, contributing a modest but symbolic share of national capacity. Yet it is onshore wind that now defines Ireland’s renewable energy landscape, both in scale and in strategic importance. With more than 300 operational wind farms and over 5GW of installed capacity, onshore wind is, by a considerable margin, the most mature form of intermittent renewable electricity deployed in Ireland today.

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    Climate authority wants to use existing utility poles for EV charging points
    Energy & TransportMay 12, 2026

    Climate authority wants to use existing utility poles for EV charging points

    Excerpt from maltatoday.com.mt Existing utility poles could be utilised as charging points for electric vehicles, according to a pre-market consultation by the Climate Action Authority.  “This initiative seeks to boost electric mobility by enhancing access to charging stations in communities and common areas,” said Abigail Cutajar, the authority's CEO. “It reaffirms the commitment in Malta’s ongoing efforts to electrify transportation.” The projects' initiatives to promote Malta’s shift to sustainable and clean mobility include the expansion of single-phase slow AC electric vehicle recharging stations, known as trickle chargers, applied on existing utility poles in residential public areas and other key locations where vehicles are often parked for extended periods.

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    Geothermal Energy Drilling in Tenerife Set to Begin in January
    Energy & TransportDecember 15, 2025

    Geothermal Energy Drilling in Tenerife Set to Begin in January

    Excerpt from tenerifeweekly.com Geothermal Resource Exploration The Cabildo of Tenerife will commence geothermal surveys in January to locate energy resources beneath the island. Juan José Martínez, the island’s Innovation Councillor, stated that preparations are underway to make the search feasible. Significant Implications for Energy Paradigm “If the surveys to find geothermal sources are successful, we will radically change the energy paradigm of Tenerife,” remarked Martínez during the presentation of the area’s budget on Monday, 24 November. The budget for renewable energies in 2026 includes nearly €35 million for this endeavour.

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    Curacao’s Microgrid Shows How Small Island Nations Can Decarbonize
    Energy & TransportDecember 15, 2025

    Curacao’s Microgrid Shows How Small Island Nations Can Decarbonize

    Photo credit: Markus Matzel / ullstein bild via Getty Images / Forbes.com Excerpt from forbes.com A couple of weeks ago, Hurricane Melissa barreled through the Caribbean, knocking out power for tens of thousands and exposing the fragility of island energy systems. For countries like Curacao, the stakes are high: from 1970 to 2020, small island developing states (SIDS) lost $153 billion due to weather extremes, a figure that dwarfs their average GDP of $13.7 billion. The event underscores a growing imperative—these nations must decarbonize while ensuring reliable power to withstand climate shocks. The solution may come in the form of a flexible microgrid model deployed in Curacao, which combines renewable energy with battery storage and engine-based power plants. The approach, led by Wärtsilä Energy, could serve as a blueprint for SIDS and other vulnerable regions worldwide.

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    Singapore to become first country to tax air passengers on aviation fuel
    Energy & TransportDecember 8, 2025

    Singapore to become first country to tax air passengers on aviation fuel

    Excerpt from independent.co.uk Singapore will become the first country to charge air passengers a green fuel tax as part of ongoing decarbonisation efforts. From 1 October 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will introduce a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) charge for travellers departing the country. The SAF levy will apply to all tickets or services sold from 1 April 2026, including cargo shipments and business flights.

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    Aruba to Dismantle Historic San Nicolas Oil Refinery and Transform Site into Sustainable Development Hub
    Energy & TransportNovember 27, 2025

    Aruba to Dismantle Historic San Nicolas Oil Refinery and Transform Site into Sustainable Development Hub

    Excerpt from curacaochronicle.com “For nearly a century, the refinery was the beating heart of Aruba’s industrial era,” said Eman. “Generations of Arubans built their lives around this facility. But the future demands courage. Today, we close this chapter not only with memories of the refinery’s contribution, but with a renewed conviction to open a new chapter of innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity.” The San Nicolas refinery played a crucial role during World War II, serving as one of the main fuel suppliers for the Allied forces. Aruba has formally requested technical assistance from the Dutch government to ensure the safe dismantling and decontamination of the site, as well as support in preparing international tenders for the area’s redevelopment. Prime Minister Schoof, who visited Aruba after attending the COP30 Climate Conference in Brazil, praised the AVP–Futuro government for its bold and forward-looking decision. “This is not an easy step, but a historic and crucial moment for Aruba,” he said. “The island is showing true leadership — transforming what once powered the world into a new source of renewal and opportunity.” The Dutch government will contribute €53.6 million — nearly Afl. 110 million — to a special Energy Transition Fund to strengthen and modernize Aruba’s electricity grid and renewable energy infrastructure.

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    The story behind the scramble for Greenland's rare earths
    Energy & TransportNovember 24, 2025

    The story behind the scramble for Greenland's rare earths

    Photo credit: James Brooks via bbc.com Excerpt from bbc.com As the US and the West races to break China's stranglehold over rare earths production – crucial for everything from smart phones to electric vehicles to military hardware – some firms are betting that Greenland will become a new mining frontier. Its mineral riches remain largely untapped, but operating in this remote northerly region is challenging, as Adrienne Murray reports from Qaqortoq. Standing on a barren rocky slope overlooking the Killlavaat Alannguat mountain in southern Greenland, Tony Sage pointed across the fjord. "We'll have two pits initially," the CEO of Critical Metals said, gesturing towards the site of the proposed mine.

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    Floating solar megaproject — 122,000 panels across 10 islands by Asia’s rising energy superpower
    Energy & TransportNovember 24, 2025

    Floating solar megaproject — 122,000 panels across 10 islands by Asia’s rising energy superpower

    Photo credit: OceanSun via ecoticias.com Excerpt from ecoticias.com The ambitious plan for renewable energy resources in Singapore is about to undergo a revolutionary change with the installation of the world’s first floating solar system in the vicinity of Jurong Island. This innovative project is the Asian version of the most groundbreaking solar technology developed in marine areas, with the cutting-edge membrane technology provided by OceanSun, the Norwegian technology forerunner, along with the capabilities of Keppel Infrastructure, the Singapore giant.

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    Australia's green energy push, Pacific ties face setback from COP31 impasse
    Energy & TransportNovember 20, 2025

    Australia's green energy push, Pacific ties face setback from COP31 impasse

    Excerpt from reuters.com CANBERRA/BELEM, Brazil, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Australia risks undermining efforts to establish itself as a leader in the green energy transition and letting down its vulnerable Pacific island neighbours if its bid to host next year's biggest climate summit fails, diplomats and analysts say. Australia was long considered the front-runner to hold the COP31 conference, aiming to bolster its ambitions to become "a renewable energy superpower" and highlight issues faced by Pacific island nations which it plans to co-host the conference with.

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