Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA)
Request for Quotation:
Request Issued – 22 July 2021
Closing date for receipt of quotation – 16 August 2021 by Midnight UTC
Contracting Organisation – European Small Islands Federation
Queries by email to – rhodatwombly@gmail.com
- Background and framework
- 1 European Small Islands Federation (ESIN)
ESIN is a not for profit organisation registered in Sweden. It is the voice of islanders and small islands. Its main objective is to help small island communities remain alive. To this end, ESIN acts at two levels:
- Local level: ESIN aims to strengthen islands’ cultural identity, facilitating the circulation of information between its members. It allows comparison on how different countries cope with issues and it gives support to each other through the sharing of knowledge.
- European level: ESIN also aims to inform relevant EU institutions and influence EU policies and rules by increasing awareness and understanding of small islands issues.
1.2 Context
In support of this objective, ESIN has secured an EU grant through the NESOI project (nesoi.eu), to help mobilise the island communities on four (4) small island members of ESIN to advance their clean energy transition, through the development of a Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA) for each of them. These four (4) small islands that participate in the NESOI project through ESIN are Nagu (Finland), Fur (Denmark), Venø (Denmark) and Ulva (UK).
The Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA) is a strategic roadmap for the transition process towards clean energy that was developed by the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat (euislands.eu). A template is available in several languages at euislands.eu/energy-transition-agenda
The consultants that will be chosen for the development of each one of the four (4) CETAs will work closely with:
- ESIN, its energy working group, community engagement experts and the project coordinator
- consultants that will be appointed by the NESOI project to conduct preliminary analyses on specific project ideas or areas of interest for each of the 4 islands
- The islands concerned
1.3.1 Nagu, Finland
The Nagu archipelago consists of two main islands and several inhabited smaller islands (less than 70 persons). Its total area is 1698 km2, of which 247 km2 is land and 1451 km2 is water.
There are 1 350 first homes and 8 200 second homes. There are huge seasonal fluctuations regarding visitors, as the overall number of annual visitors rises to 690 000. Even if the second homes are in active use (average 90 days/y) the tourism season June- July is tremendous. This affects the energy use, water use, waste amounts etc., and puts high pressure on the overall infrastructure.
The energy resources consumed in the residential sector are electricity, oil, gas, soil heat and wood.
However, the main use of energy is within the transportation sector. Private cars and transportation both to the mainland but also from Nagu to mainland is remarkable. Even if remote working has increased, a lot of employees are in Turku town or Pargas city. Approximately 660 000 vehicles /year use the ferry in between Nagu and the mainland. There are 7 road ferries and 5 commuter boats (https://saaristolautat.fi/) consuming diesel. Two ferries are hybrid, using petrol and electricity, connecting Nagu with the mainland and with Korpo island respectively.
Heating systems often combine wood and electricity. Air source heat pumps are installed more and more. Oil heating systems are being replaced with soil heating or similar, such as water based heating or heating from the sea.
Solar panels are common for cottage use. Due to the climate and the short daytime during the period from November to January, solar is a complement to other energy sources. Some residents, as well as the local gas station, have solar cell plants.
There are around 10 public sector properties using electricity, oil and soil heat. There are also 2 boatyards and 2 marinas, which use electricity, 1 fishfarm, cattle and sheep farms, and numerous small businesses.
A list and roles of the island stakeholders that have interest in the clean energy transition and who are likely to be involved in the discussion, planning, and eventually in specific projects development are:
- Fish farms (Haverön Lohi – 600 000 tons and also at the neighbouring island Korpo (150 000 tons approx)
- Land and water owners
- Cattle and milk producers
- Horse stables
- Farmers
- Households and restaurants (organic waste)
- Pro Nagu association
1.3.2 Fur, Denmark
Fur is a Danish island in the Limfjord, north of the Salling peninsula, and has 767 inhabitants (2020). The island covers an area of 22 km2 and was until 1860 forestless. Today there is forest several places on the island.
The biggest town on the island is Nederby with 565 inhabitants (2020). The island has a ferry link over Fur Strait from Branden on the Salling side. Fur belongs to Skive Municipality and is located in Central Denmark Region.
The island is linked to the mainland through a 24-hour ferry, the Sleipner-Fur ferry, sailing from Branden. The crossing of the Fursund takes 3–4 minutes.
A list and roles of the island stakeholders that have interest in the clean energy transition and who are likely to be involved in the discussion, planning, and eventually in specific projects development are:
- Fur Ø-forening (member of the Association of Danish Small Islands)
- Fur Udviklingsråd (Fur Development Council)
- Energibyen Skive (Representative from local municipality)
- Imerys Industrial Minerals Denmark (moler factory, ISO 14.001/50.001 certified)
- Skamol (moler factory)
- Eniig Energi (Regional electricity supplier)
- Fur Fjernvarme (Local district heating supplier)
1.3.1 Venø, Denmark
Venø is a small Danish island located in Limfjorden in the north of Jutland, 3 kilometres north of Struer. It is 7.5 kilometres long and has a maximum width of 1.5 kilometres, with a total area of 6.5 km2 and a population of 204 inhabitants. Since 1958, there has been a ferry service from Venø Odde, the island’s most southerly point, over the narrow sound to Kleppen.
The island is a popular holiday destination with beaches and camping facilities. The only village is Venø By in the centre of the island and has a small fishing harbour which is home for practice boats belonging to the local boarding school and suitable for pleasure boats.
10 years ago a government supported project was carried out locally in co-operation with the island’s energy supplier. The project included registration of energy consumption of each household and proposed development of a solar panel park, which was eventually stopped due to legal restrictions. The consequences were collective purchasing of local geothermal plants, heat pumps, solar cells and solar heating systems for individual household installations.
A project carried out in 2019-2020 in cooperation with Samsø Energy Academy and the Association of Danish Small Islands has stimulated the local interest in developing an energy cooperative and storage activity. The reasons behind this is the local interest in continuous energy savings and developing systems for storage of surplus energy production.
A list and roles of the island stakeholders that have interest in the clean energy transition and who are likely to be involved in the discussion, planning, and eventually in specific projects development are:
- Local community group, VenøBoen (citizens of Venø)
- Private local owners of installations that produces energy (solar cells and alike)
- VenøBoen, the local community group (local project steering group)
- Households on Venø who already has taken clear energy initiatives and transformation initiatives.
- The municipality of Struer who politically and administratively coordinate the development of local districts within the municipality
- Jysk Energi – the actual energy supplier to Venø
- Venø Seafood and Venøsund Fisk og Skaldyr (processes fish and shellfish (oysters, lobsters))
- Venø Havn – private harbour (sailors and onloading of shellfish)
- Venø Efterskole – boarding school
1.3.4 Ulva, UK
Ulva is located 500 yards off the west coast of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It is an island of roughly seven and half miles long and two and half miles wide. The resident population has fluctuated over recent decades, increasing from 13 in 1981 to 30 in 1991 before declining to 16 residents in 2001 and 11 residents in 2011. It currently stands at 6 people, two of whom are primary school children.
Geographically, the Isle of Ulva forms part of the larger Ulva Ferry area that has a resident population of 119 people across 53 households. As noted in the 2015 Ulva Ferry Housing Needs Survey report, the main sector of the local economy is agriculture, forestry and fishing, employing 28.3% of the working age population. Other significant economic sectors in the area are accommodation and food services, employing 13.3% of the working age population and education, accounting for 11.7% of that population.
Ecologically, Ulva mostly comprises moorland, grassland and native woodland which along with an extensive largely rocky coastline and intertidal area represent an important natural heritage asset base. Transport links on the island consist of non-metaled tracks and paths. The island is connected to mainland Mull by a small, community owned but privately-operated ferry.
The main industry currently on Ulva is tourism with an estimated 5-6000 visitors to the island during the 2018 season based on ferry usage and approximately 7000 visitors in 2019. Additionally, the island is an attraction for those visiting by yacht, kayak and smaller cruise ships. The Boathouse, an award-winning, independently operated licensed restaurant is located near the slipway.
Ulva has a housing stock of 8 properties, including Ulva House (listed), Manse (listed) and Ardalum House. Five of these properties are vacant and one has been used as a self-catering holiday facility. The remaining two properties are occupied on short- assured tenancies. In addition to the residential properties there is also a listed church, various farm buildings and 2 bothies. With the exception of Ulva House which was built in the 1950s to replace an earlier house destroyed by fire, all buildings on the island are believed to date from the 19th century. All are in a poor state of repair and maintenance, with most requiring very major renovation work to enable them to be used in the future.[1]
There are no tarmac roads on the island, only a series of farm track so the only vehicles here are farm vehicles, a couple of land rovers and quad bikes.
A list and roles of the island stakeholders that have interest in clean energy and who are likely to be involved in the discussion, planning, and eventually in specific projects development are:
- North West Mull Community Woodland Company board members
- Ulva residents
- Ulva School
- Ulva School Community Association
- Ulva House Garden Volunteers
- Mull & Iona Community Trust
- Ulva House Project Manager
- Mull Community Council
- Highlands & Islands Enterprise
- Tenants of the Boathouse café on Ulva
- Ulva sub-committee members
2. Objective of the Request to Quotations
The objective of this Request for Quotations is to identify suitably qualified and experienced External Advisors to carry out the necessary data collection and analyses and facilitate community building to prepare a Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA) for each of the four (4) small islands. ESIN will award one contract for each Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA), hence four (4) contracts in total. Interested External Advisors can submit a bid for one or more of the four (4) contracts. The work should be carried out in close cooperation with the respective island community and stakeholders, as per the requirements, and responsibilities outlined in Section 3 below and the objective and specifications outlined in Sections 4 and 5 below, respectively.
3.Requirements and External Advisor’s Responsibilities
Through each awarded contract, each appointed External Advisor will be required to develop a Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA) for one of the four (4) small island communities, as per the requirements and guidance available on the Clean Energy for EU Island’s Secretariat website (euislands.eu).
A draft CETA should be delivered in no more than 10 months from the initial appointment to delivery. A contact person per island, as well as the project coordinator and any other physical or legal person that will be appointed by ESIN, will be available to assist with queries during the process.
Each selected External Advisor should submit to ESIN an interim report on month 5, describing the progress of the work, and a final report on month 10. ESIN will provide templates for the interim and final report.
Each External Advisor should cooperate with the consultants that will appointed by the NESOI project and provide information about the progress of the work or any other input relevant to the development of the CETA, upon request.
There may be a possibility of holding a capacity building workshop on the island of Samsø, Denmark, in support of the community engagement process for the clean energy transition on the four (4) islands that participate in the NESOI project through ESIN, which the External Advisor would be invited to attend at their own expenses on an optional basis.
4.Objective of the Clean Energy Transition Agendas (CETA)
The general objective of each island’s Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA) is to tie the concepts for further progress into a cohesive and clear document, which will be co-developed and widely acceptable by each island’s community and stakeholders, and plan achievable energy and climate goals in line with each island’s vision.
In addition, for each island the CETA has the following specific objectives:
Nagu: The purpose of the CETA is to get a comprehensive mapping of the energy consumption and explore the potential of renewable resources to cover part of Nagu’s energy needs. In particular, the island is keen to study how it could use the organic material available (e.g. waste from farms, fish farms, forestry, the vast areas of reed, forest production leftovers, crop residues, manure, and organic waste) in a way that can serve sustainability and clean energy and a more circular way of thinking. Also the sediment from septic tanks as compost could and should be utilised and taken care of locally. Other options and technologies that Nagu would like to explore are soil or sea heating for households and new technologies of solar cells.
Fur: The purpose of the CETA in the local context of the island is to carry out an energy mapping which will help set up and implement projects on energy efficiency in households and in renewable energy. The island aims to eventually set up an information center for easy navigation in the energy funding opportunities and consultant services and also to connect different installation and energy suppliers with locals and creating special island offers. In renewable energy, the island wants to explore the possibilities of producing more clean energy, including the installation of solar panels (where, who and which technology), extension of the central heating system, utilisation of the excess heat from the local heavy industry (moler mineral processing) for power generation via ORC-technology and/or food production e.g. green house excess heat supply. The island also aims to explore the possibilities of renewable energy in transport, such as an electric cars infrastructure with local battery charging stands, ride-sharing (e.g. gomore-like app), ferry with e-fuels etc.. The island vision includes promoting sustainable living in facility sharing communities and re-use of building materials. Among others, it aims to attract new people to the island, encourage, enforce and help establishing self-supplying communities in terms of ecological vegetable garden, energy consumption, waste elimination etc.
Venø: The purpose of the CETA in the local context of the island is to follow up on the work that was carried out during previous projects, offer an up-to-date mapping of the energy consumption of the island and eventually prepare the groundwork for uncovering the possible benefits and economy for the citizens of Venø to further engage and invest in clean energy (renewal energy, sources, energy storage systems and grids for energy transportation). Based on the experiences from the Venø energy development programme (2011-14) the island wants to introduce and run a cooperative energy supply service and storage activity that balance our production and reduce the need for energy supply from the mainland. Venø citizens and the Local Activity Group (LAG) look into developing 2-4 25kW wind turbines and battery capacity to store local excess renewable electricity production from solar cells and windmills, connected via grid system.
Ulva: The motivation behind the community buy-out of the island was to enable re-population and regeneration and provide sustainable benefits for the community. The development master-plan states that development of the island should occur in a way that minimises the carbon footprint. The island aspires to retrofit two listed building with energy saving measures. Funding has been secured to refurbish Ulva House and turn it into an island heritage centre and they will be looking to secure funds to repair the church to bring it back into use as a meeting space. The island also plans to build up to 7 new houses on the island and develop a design guide for these which incorporates use of renewable technology and energy saving measures. Regarding transport, the island aspires to switch to electric versions of the existing vehicles and establish a community ‘vehicle club’ which would give residents access to a range of electric vehicles (e.g. e-cargo bikes, quad bikes) as required so each household doesn’t need to own their own vehicle. The island also owns the boat that provides the ferry service to Ulva from Mull. It is going to require replacing over the next couple of years and options to get an electric boat or a boat powered by some form of renewable energy will be explored. Maintenance equipment, e.g. grass cutting machines, chain saws, lawn mowers, strimmers etc could be replaced with electric versions as well as researching the possibility of running some kind of tool library so equipment can be shared among residents. Ulva is keen to exchange knowledge and learn from other islands in terms of clean energy transition good practices.
5.Specifications
Within the described framework and ambition, each CETA should use the template available on euislands.eu and ensure to:
- provide a complete baseline of sectorial energy usage (e.g. residential, land and sea transport, industry, agriculture and fisheries, etc.), fuel consumed and energy-related CO2 emissions for a baseline year that will agreed with each island.
For each of these sectors, the breakdown of fuels used (fuel mix) is to be estimated. In particular, the production & usage of renewable energy within the study area is to be quantified. Where a significant seasonality of energy usage is expected (e.g. due to tourism), seasonal from year-round energy usages should be dis-aggregated. Wherever possible, bottom-up energy usage data is to be applied. Where bottom-up data is not available, realistic estimates based on statistical data available at regional or national level are to be applied. In all cases, the methodology applied to determine the baseline energy usage is to be documented and references listed, so that it can be replicated and improved for future updates. The baseline energy usage data is to be compiled into an Excel spreadsheet to be handed over to ESIN with user-friendly instructions. Overall, the methodology applied shall be in line with the Covenant of Mayors’ Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Plan and its emission inventory template.
- define the island’s vision with regard to energy and decarbonisation, as this will be determined by the stakeholders on each island
- be informed and guided by each island local community, under the leadership of a local steering committee or working group. It is expected that an appropriate level of engagement and consultation with the island communities and key stakeholders will take place to help understand the needs and capabilities of the community and lead to local engagement. The CETA should aim to both leverage local knowledge as well as facilitate knowledge and skills development for the community.
- identify priority sustainable energy projects and include guidance on how to deal with planning and licensing issues
- include a summary of financing and ownership options (including community ownership) for the implementation of the island’s vision in practice
The External Advisors should mind that ESIN, being a Federation of small islands across many countries, wishes that the development of a CETA by four (4) of its small island members within this project should also:
- further strengthen knowledge sharing among its members
- help build capacity on each of the four (4) islands, and
- eventually create future cooperation opportunities among its small island-member
6. Budget
The available budget per contract that will be awarded, which corresponds to the development of one Clean Energy Transition Agenda (CETA) for one of the four (4) small islands, is eight thousand (8 000) euros.
- Evaluation criteria
The following evaluation criteria will be applied for the award of each of the contracts:
| Criteria | Maximum Evaluation Points |
| Demonstrated understanding of the requirements | 30 |
| Proposed methodology | 30 |
| Demonstrated skills and ability to deliver the specified required services | 30 |
| Price | 10 |
| Total Evaluation Points Available | 100 |
Any External Advisor being considered for appointment will be responsible for having valid tax clearance certificates and evidence of sufficient relevant insurance. Quoters should declare, as part of their tender, that these will be available if requested.
ESIN is not bound to accept any quotation that it receives and may terminate the selection process at any time.
[1] Island of Ulva – Social and Economic Development Masterplan
ESIN 