The meaning of energy islands: Towards a theoretical framework

The term ‘energy island’ encompasses contradicting interpretations to electricity connectivity and isolation. Scholars and practitioners use the same term to describe contrasting scenarios that address different problems and widely divergent policy goals. These may include physically secluded islands trying to connect to the mainland to increase their energy security, or countries wishing to actively isolate their electricity systems from a hostile surrounding region, or artificial islands that enable more integration of renewable energy systems, or microgrids that enable communities and regions to voluntarily disconnect from their country's national grid for political purposes. The understanding of energy islands as either an opportunity to pursue or a vulnerability to overcome can thus differ based on factors such as economic constraints, technical capabilities, security of supply, or political aspirations for sovereignty and independence. This study provides a comprehensive framework for unpacking the term 'energy island' and analyzing the various factors that influence its development. It does so by conceptualizing energy islands as a spatial interaction between three boundaries: a physical boundary, a political boundary, and an electricity service boundary. By examining the interplay between these boundaries, this study identifies six different types of energy islands that represent six distinct configurations of electricity isolation, as well as seven policy trajectories that allow them to transition from one type to another. This novel theoretical framework facilitates a better understanding of why and when policymakers choose to either abandon or strengthen their country's electricity isolation and identifies the physical and institutional solutions they employ to achieve their goals.