Advancing Energy Transition in Northeast Iceland

RECET presentation on the Nordic Baltic Energy conference

August 2023: Conference at Hotel KEA Marks the Start of the RECET Project

In August 2023, Eimur hosted a conference at Hotel KEA titled Energy Transition and Municipalities. The event was organized in collaboration with Icelandic New Energy, SSNE (Association of Municipalities in Northeast Iceland), and Vestfjarðarstofa (Westfjords Development Agency).

The event introduced the RECET project and included discussions on revenue opportunities for municipalities from energy infrastructure, as well as case studies of energy projects on Samsø Island in Denmark.

December 2023: Representing Iceland at the Nordic-Baltic Energy Conference

In December 2023, Eimur participated in the Nordic-Baltic Energy Conference 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia, as a representative of Iceland’s Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Climate. Held on December 11-12, the conference featured Skúli Gunnar Árnason, RECET project manager, who presented a talk titled: Energy Policy on the Local Level: Planning and Implementing Energy Actions with Local Authorities.

Skúli introduced the RECET project, highlighting its objectives and key focus areas. The presentation was well-received, sparking insightful questions and discussions. Attendees from various countries expressed interest in addressing the challenges faced by remote and rural areas.

RECET Seminar on Energy Transition in North Iceland

February 2024: Seminar on Energy Transition in North Iceland

On February 21, 2024, Eimur, SSNE, and Icelandic New Energy hosted a seminar at Hof Cultural Center in Akureyri, Iceland. The event addressed the current status of the energy transition in North Iceland, oil usage in the region, and focused specifically on heavy transport and harbor-related transitions.

This symposium set the stage for RECET-related work in Northeast Iceland. It attracted significant interest, with approximately 70 attendees at Hof and 50 additional viewers online. A recording of the event is available here: Watch on YouTube.

2024 Workshops: Supporting Municipalities in Energy Transition

Eimur and SSNE have completed a series of workshops under the RECET project aimed at facilitating energy transitions in rural communities. Municipalities within SSNE’s jurisdiction were invited to participate in these sessions, which focused on enhancing their capacity to address energy transition challenges and develop actionable plans.

Participants worked on creating strategies tailored to their local contexts, designed to support the transition to sustainable energy solutions. The goal is for each municipality to prepare an energy transition plan as part of a broader climate action strategy. The workshops emphasized planning, policy development, and administrative strategies to reduce fossil fuel reliance and promote sustainability.