Corsica is to become a platform for the development of renewable energies and seek to become energy independent. The aim, announced as part of wide-ranging plans to make France environmentally sustainable through the La Grenelle initiative (main story), is to create a model which could apply to all France's island territories.
"All the messages of the Grenelle will be brought into play," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Confirming Corsica's 2005 Energy Plan, he said priority will be given to renewables, particularly wind power, photovoltaic and biomass, with a target of 34% of energy from renewables by 2020.
Of this, wind will supply 300 GWh, according to Florence Walker of the Corsican development agency, ADEC. Meantime, the short term target is 80 MW of wind by 2013, compared to 18 MW today. The government also intends to fund research and development of renewables on the island through the university and Capenergies, a centre for the development of clean energy.
