This work contemplates and defines the role of modelling renewable energy, especially on islands, in the transition to sustainable and highly renewable energy systems. It addresses the Paris Agreement by potentially including 80,000 islands with their locally limited and globally relevant role in energy planning. To achieve global targets, also islands need to contribute, yet with limited possibilities and support but with increasing attention. With a particular focus on three case studies, this work highlights general perspectives of islands, their limitations but also their potentials, and the understanding we can gain from them to address energy planning is a smart way. Therefore, the concepts of smart energy systems and islands are elaborated and combined, as well as put into new theoretical context of transition and multi-level governance. This is achieved by looking into the energy system analysis and modelling work done on the case studies. This critically reflects on the renewable energy demonstrations and modelling done of and on islands; and when including perspectives from and working with the islands, it can benefit both islanders and energy planners in the energy transition. The collaboration with islands supports also future research and the fight against climate change in a sustainable way.

International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, Vol. 33 (2022)