Project Donne

Neil Williams September 8, 2023

Press Release: Project Donne – Accelerating Renewable Energy for Small Islands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sustainability Groups unveils “Project Donne” to empower small Islands in their transition to 100% renewable energy

Stockholm, Sweden — 8th September 2023 — Sustainability Groups, a Swedish-based non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainable development, is pleased to announce the launch of Project Donne. This pioneering initiative leverages the power of artificial intelligence to help small islands achieve their renewable energy goals, ensuring a cleaner, more resilient future for their communities.

Named after John Donne, the 17th-century English poet and cleric whose famous meditation “No man is an island” from Devotions upon Emergent Occasions reminds us of our shared humanity, Project Donne embodies the spirit of interconnectedness and collective responsibility. Just as Donne’s meditation highlighted the importance of community, this project seeks to unite small islands worldwide in their common quest for renewable energy.

Project Donne is an AI-driven socio-technical platform designed to provide island governments and local stakeholders with tailored insights, resources, and solutions to accelerate their transition to 100% renewable energy. By offering customized roadmaps and identifying key opportunities for collaboration and funding, the platform empowers islands to overcome the unique challenges they face, such as geographical isolation, small populations, and limited access to resources.

“We believe that islands play a crucial role in the global fight against climate change. Through Project Donne, we are offering them the tools they need to lead the way in renewable energy transitions,” said Patrik Andersson, Chair at Sustainability Groups. “Just as John Donne spoke of the interconnectedness of humanity, we see small islands as pivotal actors in a collective journey toward a more sustainable world.”

Project Donne is closely aligned with key European initiatives aimed at promoting renewable energy on islands, including the NESOI (New Energy Solutions Optimized for Islands) project and The Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat. By drawing inspiration from these EU initiatives, Project Donne amplifies their impact by offering islands a comprehensive AI-driven platform to complement the support already available.

The EU’s NESOI initiative aims to unlock €1 billion in investment for island energy projects, and Project Donne is positioned to help small islands maximize these opportunities by delivering tailored solutions for funding, technical advice, and project management. Similarly, the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat promotes island energy transitions, and Project Donne complements this by offering advanced AI-driven analytics that help accelerate decision-making and implementation.

Through the integration of digital tools and AI, Project Donne empowers islands to take ownership of their energy transitions, making it easier to access funding, optimize energy usage, and ensure the long-term sustainability of renewable energy solutions.

About Sustainability Groups

Sustainability Groups is a non-profit social venture based in Sweden, dedicated to supporting grassroots initiatives that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization develops and implements projects worldwide, including RAID Manager, a global open-source risk management toolkit, and Jugaad Africa, which fosters frugal, non-conventional innovation in African communities.