NESOI Plus

New Energy Solutions Optimised for Island Outermost Regions

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Challenge

Empowering remote communities in the energy transition

Despite the success of the original NESOI initiative, the energy transition remains unevenly distributed across Europe. EU Outermost Regions (ORs) face unique geographical and structural barriers—such as extreme remoteness, small market sizes, and high dependence on energy imports—that often leave them vulnerable. While Energy Communities are a pillar of the EU Green Deal, their development in these specific island contexts has been limited due to a lack of technical expertise, complex regulatory environments, and difficulty in accessing finance for small-scale projects.

Solution

A dedicated One-Stop-Shop for Energy Communities

NESOI+ builds upon the legacy of the European Islands Facility by adapting its proven methodology to the specific needs of the most remote regions. The project provides:

  • The NESOI+ One-Stop-Shop: A digital platform offering a centralized repository of reference materials, technical tools, and a matchmaking space between project promoters and investors.
  • Technical & Financial Assistance: Specialized support to transform initial ideas into “investment-ready” concepts. This includes legal, financial, and technical advisory to ensure project bankability.
  • Capacity Building: Tailored training programs for local authorities and energy communities to empower them with the skills needed to lead their own transition.
  • Pilot Testing: Validating the model in three key Outermost Regions—the Azores (Portugal), the Canary Islands (Spain), and Martinique (France)—to ensure the solutions are replicable across all EU islands.
NESOI Plus supports energy communities in Azores
Azores (Portugal)
NESOI Plus supports energy communities in Canary Islands
Canary Islands (Spain)
NESOI Plus supports energy communities in Martinique
Martinique (France)

Impact

Driving local resilience and decarbonization

By fostering bottom-up energy initiatives, NESOI+ aims to achieve:

  • 30 Local Initiatives Supported: Launching two open calls to select and mentor 30 energy community projects toward concrete implementation.
  • Increased Energy Independence: Reducing reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports by promoting local renewable energy sources (RES).
  • Mobilized Investments: Creating robust investment pipelines that attract private and public capital to fragile island economies.
  • Standardization: Refining a European standard for technical assistance and cascade funding that can be scaled to other remote regions.

Funded by the European Union. N. 101216221. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only
and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment
Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.