GreeningGreening FaroeseFaroese OuterOuter IslandsIslands Olga Biskopstø, The Research Center for Social Development and the Association of Outer Islands

““VarandiVarandi orkaorka íí smsmááumum samfelsamfeløøgumgum”” OrkudepilinOrkudepilin íí KambsdaliKambsdali

28.-29. oktober 2009

Research Center for Social Development PresentationPresentation

I will start by giving a brief information about the Outer Islands association – Útoyggjafelagið, and the work for green energy.

Grønar útoyggjar TheThe OuterOuter Islands,Islands, onon thethe peripheryperiphery ofof aa smallsmall islandisland communitycommunity

• • Svínoy • • Mykines • • • Skúvoy • St.Dímun These islands are small, slightly astray, and are only linked to the mainland by boat or helicopter. Services on the islands are low, there are few jobs, most people live on keeping sheep. PeoplePeople leaveleave thethe smallsmall islandsislands

•• It is especially families with children, who leave the outer islands. This upsets the natural population balance. It hampers both industrial progress and community life in the islands. TheThe OuterOuter IslandsIslands AssociationAssociation

•• In 2001 the population of these 8 small islands took the initiative to create the association - Útoyggjafelagið. The aim of the association is to work for development, growth and welfare on the islands and to stop depopulation. TheThe OuterOuter IslandIsland associationassociation workwork to:to:

•• Improve the conditions for employment •• Improve the infrastructure, with special emphasis on better vessels and increased frequency by boat and helicopter •• Mobilize the locals and to support innovation and local initiatives •• Foster co-operation and networking on the islands, between islands and with the rest of the country and the world •• We co-operate with the authorities about improving services FindFind aa solutionsolution toto fuelfuel problems!problems! EnergyEnergy supplysupply onon thethe OuterOuter IslandsIslands •• Faroese Electricity Company (SEV), provide eletricity on the islands. Fuel for the generators comes by boat or helicopter. •• Oil for heating the house is carried in oil barrels. This is expensive, inconvenient and not good for the environment. Communications,Communications, EnergyEnergy andand TourismTourism

•• For many years, the transport links has been the axis, most discussions about the future of small islands has turned around. •• We remain keen on that the transport is significant and must be developed in the best way, but equally vital is to solve the energy issue and generate income and jobs on the islands. TheThe outherouther islandsislands needneed womenwomen andand jobsjobs

•• There is a lack of particular jobs for women, therefore, there is also a significant lack of women on the small islands. •• Tourism and smaal crafts is an opportunity

Skrásett Alment 19% 16%

Pr iv at 10%

Ferðast 21% Landb. 14%

Sjóvinna 20% NewNew ideasideas andand newnew solutionssolutions

•• Based on the above-mentioned problems Útoyggjafelagið realize that there is a need for new thinking and exciting alternative activities. •• Activities which may give the small islands a new image - such as the emphasis on being "green islands” OpportunitiesOpportunities inin "green"green growthgrowth andand sustainablesustainable tourism"tourism"

•• The best chance for survival is to do something extraordinary and raise awareness of new opportunities. •• That is, among other things, to recognize that small islands are authentic, have a wonderful nature, local culture and history and can be attractive to "eco- tourists." •• Green Growth gives people on the islands increased quality of life and an economic benefit, and nature will have an opportunity to conserve natural systems, which in the long run is beneficial to the and the whole planet. GreeningGreening FaroeseFaroese OuterOuter islandsislands -- includesincludes inin brief:brief:

•• 1. Regional development 2. Renewable energy 3. Cultural understanding and communicating historical and cultural values, to use in tourism. 4. Product development, local produce and traditional food - with a sustainable perspective 5. Mobilization and local initiatives and exposures ProjectsProjects whichwhich areare partpart ofof "Greening"Greening FaroesFaroes OutherOuther Islands".Islands".

•• Now I will show you a number of projects in the category: "Greening Outer Islands”. Some projects are well underway, others are moving on, while others are on hold, because of a lack of funding or they have encountered other problems. FugloyFugloy "" TheThe CulturalCultural andand historicalhistorical islandisland -- Fugloy".Fugloy".

•• A tourism project, to restore parts of the cultural landscape in Fugloy, and visualize how the people on an isolated island in the Atlantic has survived through 1000 years. CenterCenter forfor CultureCulture andand TourismTourism

•• As part of this project, there will be built a Center for Culture and Tourism. •• The house will be established as a cooperative project with support from local and national level. GreenGreen energyenergy

•• Energy supply to the house comes from alternative sources, like solar and wind energy. The project is part of the philosophy of "Green Growth" and "Greening Outer Islands" SvSvíínoynoy WindWind –– HydrogenHydrogen energyenergy projectproject -- SvSvíínoynoy

•• In 2005, a project was started on the island Svínoy. The project was part of an international island project, with the main objective, to create: Renewable energy technologies (solar, wind, biomass, waves ...) • For electricity • For heat • Rational use of energy - energy efficiency, passive solar architecture. Integrated systems Water supply, wastewater treatment, fuel supply, Sustainable agriculture and fishfarming Resulting in self sufficiency - - .

United United - -

- -

noy, Faroe noy, Faroe noy, Faroe í í

Faroe Islands Faroe Islands New Energy New Energy FINE, which FINE, which for accounted for accounted the project. The the project. The project was project was called "Hydrogen called "Hydrogen Energy Project Energy Project on the Island on the Island Sv Sv Islands". Islands". The project was The project was established by established by UNIDO UNIDO Nations Nations Industrial Industrial Development Development and Organization and Organization ICET ICET International International for Center for Center Hydrogen Energy Hydrogen Energy Technologies Technologies TheThe EnergyEnergy OptionsOptions forfor thethe IslandsIslands was.was.

• Solves energy problems • Becomes tourist attraction

Sustainable agriculture and fishfarming??

Despite the 100% backing from the Svínoy municipality, the project has not started. It was actually moved to the island Nólsoy. At Svínoy there is a strong desire to get started with a new project like this. PeatPeat andand tourismtourism onon thethe islandisland ofof SvSvíínoynoy In 2009 was established a tourism project in Svínoy.

This is in cooperation with the North Adventure, Útoyggjafelagið and the local people.

The trip is a boat trip, combined with the opportunity to cut peat.

We have plans to develop this project, so that also includes information on green energy and global warming. KalsoyKalsoy TrTrøøllanesllanes –– EconomusEconomusééee (fígging NPP og NORA) MikladalurMikladalur -- holidayholiday villagevillage

This project has been underway for a few years.

The goal is to create an area in the village on Kalsoy, into a recreational area, with housing and activities

Opportunities like mountain climbing, traditional crafts, storytelling and dance with the seals.

Environmental awareness is one of the project keywords.keywords MykinesMykines There is a young couple on the island Mykines who will build a guest-and art house.

The project will include an art exhibition by renowned artist Sámal Joensen Mikines and a studio, where artists can come and work, as well as rooms and a cafeteria.cafeteria MikinesMikines GistingarGistingar andand listahlistahúúss (Guest-and art house)

The house is round with an open fireplace in the middle and 12 double rooms in a circle. The style is old viking building.

Energy in the house will be covered by solar and wind energy. Mikines-guest and art house will be marketed as "green" and will concentrate on that profil, also in preparing local food from local raw materials. KolturKoltur •• On the island Koltur there only lives one family.

•• Koltur-farm is one of the few farms in the Faroe Islands, which has received accreditation as organic farming.

•• The family wants to run eco-tourism as a supplement to agriculture. GreenGreen energyenergy inin KolturKoltur

•• The power supply on the island og Koltur, has been an oil-fueled engine. Now SEV has started to shift to more renewable energy / green energy. (80.000,- kr. Saved on transport a year)

•• This is an experiment that has been tested at Risø in . The project consists of a wind turbine, designed to allow a storage device. Up to it are connected a small diesel engine. The engine starts up when the battery does not provide any power. SkSkúúvoyvoy EnergyEnergy supplysupply hashas beenbeen putput onon thethe agendaagenda

• At Skúvoy they also want to resolve the problem of oil supply. •• There have been proposals to build a small hydroelectric plant, but this is never realized. •• Skúvoy Municipality is keen to join a project that can give Skúvoy opportunity to be a "Green Island“. StStóórara DDíímunmun

Stóre Dímun is one of the islands that is furthest along the project “Greening Faroese Outer islands AllAll energyenergy isis fromfrom sustainablesustainable sourcessources

At Stóra Dímun the energy is from heat pump, solar panels and wind energy. It all started three years ago and today the houses and water is heated with alternative energy. A wind turbine will provide energy to a storage device (battery plant) as a cooperation between SEV and DONG.

As seen in the picture, the solar panels are set up. When solar panels do not provide enough the heat pump takes over. So diesel is no longer used for heating on Dimun. Regarding tourism and production of local commodities Store Dímun also go forward.

There is a tannery on the island, and they sell hides especially to foreign tourists.

In addition, there is currently a production housebeing built . This will give opportunity to produce and sell foods, that are made from local commodities. NordicNordic DelightDelight (fígging NORA) FramleiðsluhFramleiðsluhúúss

Máli er: Góðkend slátur- og framleiðsluhús til matvørur á allar útoyggjar ConclusionConclusion

A strategic decision has been taken by the inhabitants on the outer islands to move away from fossil fuels and utilise renewable energy.

This is part of an effort to develop green and cultural tourism as a new source of income to the outer islands.

This also makes the outer islands a showcase for energy technologies that can diffuse into the rest of the Faroese society and thus being an innovation driver that makes Froes internationally interesting as a test facility for new clean technologies. A new Renewable Energy Centre at Kambsdalur will contribute to this. ThankThank youyou forfor listeninglistening