An Island Sails Towards Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency

The Isle of Wight stretches across 23 miles by 13 miles off the English south coast. It is home to a population of 142,500 people, according to 2008/9 estimates. It is well known for a music festival that takes place annually there, attracting hordes of rock fans and top bands. Now the island wants to become recognized for its aim to become sustainable and self-sufficient in terms of energy.

Today (Nov. 15) marks the launch of the EcoIsland Partnership Community Interest Company (CIC), which is being marketed as a Global Innovation Centre for Smart Grid technology. The launch is designed to display to the public how working with Global Partners IBM and Toshiba EcoIsland plans to integrate the Isle of Wight's future wind, tidal, geothermal and solar power.

The Smart Grid initiative is one of the key ingredients in the island's aim to become the first truly sustainable region of the UK. It hopes that Smart Grid technology will power the island's future energy needs and reduce bills by 50%.

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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans. A media graduate with a specialization in film and TV, Antonio Pasolini is the editor of Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for alternative energy products, news and commentary. With more than a decade's experience in journalism, Antonio has written on a wide range of topics, from technological breakthroughs by the brains at MIT to a trip to sustainable projects in the Amazon. One of his new projects involves an eco print magazine to be distributed from a selection of London shops.