On Friday 29 September 2017, the website of the ‘SMILE’ project will officially launch. The Smart Islands Energy Systems (SMILE) is a unique project within the Horizon 2020 project as it has a main focus on three European islands; Madeira (Portugal), Samsø (Denmark) and the Orkneys (United Kingdom). The project aims to demonstrate nine different innovative technological solutions in large-scale smart grid demonstration projects in three different island locations within Europe. These nine solutions are all closely related and vary from the integration of battery technology, power to heat, power to fuel and electric vehicles. For each pilot the aim is to demonstrate operation of the distribution grid under stable and secure conditions. The choice of testing on island locations provides a fundamental advantage as island communities can be more easily engaged in real-life testing of solution aimed at solving important challenges that impact life on the island.

The SMILE project is a collaboration of nineteen partners from various European countries and is funded by the European Union’s ‘Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme’.