The particular features of islands (scale, fragile environment, strong dependence on conventional resources, high power generation costs, enormous weight of energy within the G.D.ntsl281056%005424fntsl281056%005424fP., abundance of renewable energy sources) make them the most appropriate places for implementing RES on a large scale.

Under these circumstances, the development of renewable energy sources on islands is not one option more: it is the only reasonable option in the framework of island strategies in favour of sustainable development, and it should complement the generalised development of measures in favour of the efficient use of energy.

Singly considered, islands are limited by their scale for the development of an important market of renewables. But if we consider them as a whole they are without doubt one of the biggest niches within the world market of renewable energy technologies. In fact, the most ambitious projects that include the 100% RES objective to be reached in the forthcoming years, are being developed on island territories in Europe, in the Pacific and in particular in the Caribbean region.

Most Caribbean islands bet on supporting decidedly large-scale programmes aimed at the maximum exploitation and development of renewable energy sources.

Based on this background, the central objective of this initiative is the establishment of a system of co-operation and technology transfer on RES and RUE, supported by the EURO-CARIBBEAN RES FORUM.