Hydrogen Islands
Initiative
International Centre for
Hydrogen Energy
Technologies
UNIDO
Integrated showcases of the H2 energy system
Islands of sustainable energy
The Hydrogen Islands Initiative strives to establish
clean hydrogen energy systems on islands worldwide in order to provide a basis for sustainable
development and at the same time preserve their
pristine environment. With renewable hydrogen
energy systems, islands can become energy selfsufficient and serve as showcases for the development of a global hydrogen energy system.
The establishment of a hydrogen-inclusive economy
based on renewable energy sources at a national or
global level is a gigantic endeavour that requires vision, commitment and technical readiness. Such an
endea-vour would have a tremendous socioeconomic
impact and would at first be much easier to accomplish on a smaller scale. Because of remoteness and
isolation, energy solutions for islands differ from
those on the mainland. The choice of conventional
energies on the islands is often limited and their cost
may be several times higher than on the mainland.
At the same time, most islands are environmentally
sensitive, are favourite tourist destinations and most
importantly have plenty of clean, renewable energy
The double role of hydrogen
ICHETʼs Hydrogen Islands Initiative builds upon the
use of renewable energy sources. Hydrogen complements renewable energy technologies, not only
solving the problem of their intermittent availability,
but also serving as the means for a renewable fuel to
power the transport sector.
sources available in the form of solar, wind, geothermal, waves, tides, ocean currents, and ocean thermal
gradients. These may be used to generate electricity
and hydrogen, covering all the energy needs of the
islands’ communities. Even today, there are hundreds of islands where a hydrogen-inclusive economy
would be not only technically but also economically
feasible.
Islands are therefore ideal showcases for demonstrating individual hydrogen technologies as well as scaled
down self-sufficient hydrogen economies. There are
already demonstrations of integrated hydrogen systems on islands (including Iceland, Utsira and Unst).
In this context, ICHET is introducing its Hydrogen
Islands Initiative with the following goals:
• Facilitating exchange of technical and organizational information between similar projects on islands all over the world;
• Providing technical and organizational assistance
for starting projects;
• Linking users, suppliers, financiers, local governments and international organizations;
• Popularizing hydrogen energy and its applicability
to island communities worldwide. ❐
For more information, please contact Dr. Frano Barbir:
[email protected]
Sabri Ülker Sokak 38/4, Cevizlibağ, Zeytinburnu 34015 Istanbul, Turkey
Phone: (+90) 212 416 48 48 Fax: (+90) 212 416 89 45 Web: www.unido-ichet.org