C4T GROUNDWORK is supporting the Estonian Islands Energy Agency in the identification of solutions to secure the green transition. The C4T GROUNDWORK technical assistance assignment is part of the first call for applications. The assignment started in September 2023 and was completed in March 2024. 

The western Estonian islands have great potential in the green transition but need advice with identifying technical solutions and funding. A regional energy agency for the archipelago of islands off the west coast of Estonia was, therefore, established in November 2023. The goal of this regional energy agency is to support the clean energy transition by providing professional assistance to project developers, long-term energy planning and funding identification distribution.  

The C4T GROUNDWORK provided advice to the Energy Agency in three areas.

Firstly, C4T GROUNDWORK supported the preparation of an application for the LIFE programme. This was essential for ensuring the functioning of the regional energy agency. The agency was expected to contribute positively to the implementation of Cohesion Policy actions to mitigate climate change. The C4T GROUNDWORK provided inputs to the application and assessed the list of priority projects attached to the application.

Secondly, the focus of the support was the facilitation of exchanges of good practices with other EU energy agencies that have similar regional challenges (islands, accessibility issues). This included the organisation of a workshop with the Slovenian energy agency KSSENA on the development of a one-stop-shop solution.

During the workshop, KSSENA's managing director shared lessons learned from their successful growth since 2006. This was supplemented by a second workshop focusing on energy islands and on developing and funding renewable energy projects in an island community.

Finally, the C4T GROUNDWORK assignment focused on identifying financing options for focus areas/projects and investigated funding options for the energy agency. This included, inter alia, funding options from cohesion funds under Policy Objective 2 that can be used in the region to fund the energy transition. A database was delivered to the agency as a basis for identifying funding for on-going and future calls, to ensure the sustainability of the energy agency and its work.