With 13 energy community projects selected for technical assistance, the NESOI Plus consortium met in Gran Canaria to review its first-year achievements and prepare for upcoming activities, including a second Open Call, Short Study Tours and further development of its One-Stop-Shop platform.
On 7 and 8 October 2026, the NESOI Plus consortium gathered in Gran Canaria, Spain, for its latest General Assembly Meeting, hosted by project partner Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC).
The two-day meeting brought partners together to reflect on the progress made during the project’s first year and discuss the next steps towards supporting the development of renewable energy communities in Europe’s Outermost Regions.
Building on the experience of the previous NESOI initiative, NESOI Plus aims to help local communities in the Canary Islands, the Azores and Martinique overcome technical, financial and organisational barriers to developing renewable energy projects. Through tailored assistance, capacity building and networking opportunities, the project seeks to support 30 energy community initiatives and help turn promising ideas into viable investment projects.
First Open Call: 13 projects ready to take the next step
One of the main highlights of the General Assembly was the outcome of the first NESOI Plus Open Call, which attracted 15 applications from the three pilot regions.
Following the evaluation process, 13 projects were selected to receive technical assistance, including 11 from the Canary Islands and two from Martinique.
With the selection phase completed, the project is now moving towards the implementation of its technical assistance services. Between October 2026 and July 2027, the selected beneficiaries are expected to receive tailored support covering technical feasibility, business model development, economic and financial analysis, and access to financing opportunities.
The aim is to help beneficiaries strengthen their initiatives, address potential challenges and develop investment concepts that can support their future implementation.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on the lessons learned from the first Open Call, identifying ways to make the application process more accessible and reach a wider range of stakeholders in the next round.
What’s next for NESOI Plus?
The coming months will bring several opportunities for energy communities and stakeholders interested in contributing to the clean energy transition of Europe’s islands.
Among the main upcoming activities is the second NESOI Plus Open Call, provisionally planned for the first half of 2027. Building on the experience gained during the first round, the consortium is working to improve the application process and strengthen outreach to municipalities, citizens, businesses and other local actors across the three pilot regions.
Further information about the second Open Call, including its official launch date and application requirements, will be announced through the project’s communication channels.
Another important milestone will be the organisation of Short Study Tours, designed to encourage knowledge exchange and practical learning among beneficiaries.
The first Short Study Tour is planned to take place in Tenerife in March or April 2027, bringing together beneficiaries from the first Open Call to exchange experiences, explore practical solutions and strengthen cooperation between energy community initiatives. A second tour is also foreseen for beneficiaries selected through the upcoming Open Call.
Alongside these activities, the consortium will continue developing the NESOI Plus One-Stop-Shop, with the NESOI digital platform at its centre.
The platform aims to become a reference point for island energy communities, facilitating access to relevant resources, technical expertise and networking opportunities. Further developments will focus on improving its usability, integrating additional resources and exploring multilingual digital assistance features to better respond to the needs of stakeholders in Europe’s Outermost Regions and other European islands.
Beyond the meeting room: discovering innovation at ITC
The General Assembly was also an opportunity to discover some of the innovative work being carried out in the Canary Islands, thanks to the hospitality of project partner Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC).
During a guided visit led by Gonzalo Piernavieja Izquierdo, Director of R&D&I at ITC, partners explored several areas of the institute’s research, from innovative applications of algae in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food to health-related research and technologies combining renewable energy with seawater desalination.
One of the highlights was learning about DESALRO 2.0, ITC’s innovative seawater desalination technology, which achieved a Guinness World Record for its exceptional energy efficiency.
The visit offered a valuable opportunity to see how research and innovation can help address some of the sustainability challenges faced by island territories, particularly in relation to energy efficiency, water management and resource optimisation.
It also highlighted the importance of connecting European projects such as NESOI Plus with local expertise and solutions developed in response to the specific needs of island communities.
Building on the first year’s progress
As NESOI Plus enters its second year, the Gran Canaria General Assembly marked an important step towards translating the project’s objectives into concrete support for local energy communities.
With 13 initiatives selected, technical assistance activities moving forward, a second Open Call in preparation and new opportunities for knowledge exchange, the project continues working towards a more sustainable and inclusive energy transition in Europe’s Outermost Regions.
Interested in learning more about NESOI Plus or its upcoming opportunities?
Visit www.nesoi.eu and follow the project’s communication channels to stay informed about the second Open Call, upcoming activities and the latest developments from the NESOI Plus community.
