The Municipality of Ameland has submitted a grant application to the Wadden Fund for the Smart Energy System Ameland program. With this program, the municipality, together with various partners, aims to accelerate the development of a smart, future-proof, and largely self-sufficient energy system. It is expected that the grant award will be announced in the autumn of 2026.
Ameland has been working on making the island more sustainable for years. Thanks to investments in solar energy, heat pumps, electric transport, and Energy Park Ballumerbocht, among others, significant steps have been taken towards a fossil-free energy supply. The ambition is to make Ameland completely fossil-free by 2035.
Smart energy management
The demand for electricity will continue to increase in the coming years, while the capacity of the Wadkabel is limited. Therefore, it is not sufficient to simply generate more sustainable energy. It is also necessary to store, distribute, and use energy more intelligently.
The first projects focus on battery storage, smart energy control, and the development of an intelligent energy management system, among other things. This allows locally generated sustainable energy to be utilized more effectively and reduces the strain on the electricity grid.
Together with partners
For the implementation, the municipality works closely with partners including the Province of Fryslân. Residents, entrepreneurs, and other organizations on the island are also involved. Moreover, the knowledge and experience gained from the program can be valuable for other Wadden Islands and regions working on a sustainable energy supply.
The grant application was submitted following a positive recommendation from the Wadden Provinces Steering Group. As soon as it is known whether the grant will be awarded, the Municipality of Ameland will provide information on the next steps via Duurzaam Ameland.