It is with great pleasure that the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontian Islands announce the approval of a proposal submitted for the elaboration of a study concerning the clean energy transition of the Diapontian Islands. The proposal was submitted by the Municipality with the support of the Network of Sustainable Islands (DAFNI) to the European financial mechanism New Energy Solutions Optimized for Islands (NESOI).

A total of 117 proposals were submitted from all European countries with islands, of which 28 were approved for direct funding. Our proposal received a score of 18.5 / 20.0, ranking it first at the European level.

The Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontian Islands secured funding of € 60,000 for the elaboration of studies, as well as equal technical support from the management bodies of the NESOI mechanism.

The proposed study envisages the complete carbonization of the autonomous electrical systems of the islands of Ereikousa and Othonos, as well as the development of a “smart marina” on the island of Mathraki.

For the implementation of the projects, the study of the possibility of creating an Energy Community (EKOIN) with the participation of the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontian Islands and possibly PPC, as well as the possibility of participation of natural and legal persons from the islands.

More specifically, the interventions on the islands concern:

Decarbonisation of the Diapontian Islands

The Diapontia Islands Ereikoussa & Othonoi are Unconnected from the mainland electricity transmission system and are autonomous electrical systems with very high electricity generation costs and increased greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed project envisages the creation of a hybrid power generation station (YVS) on each island consisting of a combination of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and storage of energy produced, in locations that will be chosen jointly by the Municipality and the residents.

“Smart marina” in Mathraki

The aim of the project is to transform the local port into a modern, “smart marina”, which will have:

· Charging stations for electric vehicles and boats

· New places for tourist boats, fully equipped

· New energy-efficient lighting system

· Green waste collection point

· Small on-site desalination plants

· Development of a microgrid for the supply of electricity.

The need to adopt policies and implement projects towards sustainable development is becoming more and more intense at both European, national and local levels. In this context, the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontian Islands intensifies its efforts to participate in initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of our Municipalities such as the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and in innovative projects such as the above. now our islands are on the map of “green” destinations.

Also, this project is included as an action in the commitments of the Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontian Islands in the context of its participation in the program “100 Intelligent Cities” of the European Commission (100 Intelligent Cities Challenge – ICC), where among other things, the Municipality has stated as thematic axis and “Smart and Green Energy”.

All the necessary actions for the submission of the proposal, its overall processing until its successful selection, came from the coordinated and persistent actions of the Directorate of Planning, Development and Digital Governance of our Municipality whose entire staff deserves warm congratulations for their success, as well as to the respective Deputy Mayor and Project Manager of the local ICC team, Mrs. Panagiota Janne.