Sustainable Ameland

The municipality of Ameland has been working with a number of parties, including GasTerra, under the Sustainable Ameland Covenant to make energy supply on the island more sustainable. The aim was to make the island a frontrunner in the transition toward a CO₂-neutral energy supply through innovative energy projects. For example, Ameland is a  “pilot island” under IANOS (www.ianos.eu), a project supported by the European Commission, that demonstrates how renewable energy systems and local storage can optimise flexibility and maximise self-sufficiency. A number of projects under the Sustainable Ameland Covenant have already come to fruition, including adding sustainably generated hydrogen to the natural gas system, a large solar park (6 MW at peak), more than 130 hybrid heat pumps in rented properties and privately-owned homes, and the electrification of gas extraction on the island. All the parties involved are supporting the innovative energy projects in order to gain knowledge and experience. Taken as a whole, the projects all fit well with the Amelander mentality to work on finding solutions for themselves and so there is a high level of commitment from the islanders. This commitment from the Amelanders is very important, because the energy transition is not just a technical challenge but above all it is also a social issue.