Policy supports for the deployment of solar fuels: islands as test-beds for a rapid green transition

Abstract

Coastal areas, particularly islands, are especially vulnerable to climate change due to their geographic and climate conditions. Reaching decarbonisation targets is a long process, which will require radical changes and ‘out of the box’ thinking. In this context, islands have become laboratories for the green transition by providing spaces for exploring possibilities and alternatives. Here we explore how hydrogen (H2) energy technologies can be a critical ally for island production of renewable electricity in part by providing a storage solution. However, given the abundance of sunlight on many islands, we also note the huge potential for a more profound engagement between renewables and hydrogen technologies via the co-generation of ‘green hydrogen’ using solar fuels technology. Solar hydrogen is a clean energy carrier produced by the direct or indirect use of solar irradiation for water-splitting processes such as photovoltaic systems coupled with electrolysers and photoelectrochemical cells. While this technology is fast emerging, we question to what extent sufficient policy support exists for such initiatives and how they could be scaled up. We report on a case study of a pilot H2 plant in the Canary Islands, and we offer recommendations on early-stage policy implications for hydrogen and other solar fuels in an island setting. The paper draws on the literature on islands as policy laboratories and the multi-level perspective on energy transitions. We argue that particular attention needs to be given to discrete issues such as research and planning, and better synchronising between emerging local technology niches, the various regulatory regimes for energy, together with global trends.