Abstract One of the most discernible impacts of climate change is the increasing severity and unpredictability of extreme weather conditions. Small island developing states are particularly vulnerable to these conditions, with one of the impacts being on energy supplies due to damaging energy infrastructure, resulting in power outages and economic losses. Drawing on resilience theory to frame the discourse, we present an updated overview of how island energy infrastructures have been and continue to be negatively impacted. This same framework also provides a lens through which we identify the challenges involved in recovery, rebuilding and returning energy security in these contexts.