Island communities face a pressing challenge: achieving energy independence while strengthening resilience against climate change. The MAESHA project – Demonstration of Smart and Flexible Solutions for a Decarbonised Energy Future in Mayotte and Other European Islands – is tackling this head-on by integrating renewable energy and digital solutions, offering a scalable blueprint for decarbonization.
Launched in November 2020 as part of the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, MAESHA will conclude in October 2025 after an impactful five-year journey. The project’s early phase established the foundation for long-term success – from system architecture design to stakeholder engagement. However, moving from vision to reality has required overcoming significant technical, regulatory, and environmental hurdles.
To explore these challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned, we spoke with two key project leaders: Trialog and EuroQuality. While Trialog focused on the system architecture and technical integration, EuroQuality spearheaded engagement and communication efforts, ensuring the project’s impact extended beyond the technical sphere.
Building a smarter energy system
Decarbonising island energy systems is particularly complex due to their isolated nature and reliance on fossil fuels. The successful integration of renewables, energy management tools, and grid flexibility is crucial. This effort was led by Trialog, which developed MAESHA’s system architecture and ensured seamless interoperability among diverse technologies.
“Interoperability is crucial,” explains Cecile Rabrait, Project Manager of Innovation and European Projects at Trialog. “We designed an ‘interoperability-by-design’ framework to ensure that all individual solutions – such as smart EV charging, decentralized energy management, and demand-response tools – work together smoothly.”
The full process to achieve interoperability is described by Trialog in a 2023 paper.
Beyond enabling smart coordination of energy supply and demand, security remains a central concern. Trialog implemented a cybersecurity and privacy plan, equipping project partners with tools to identify vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and ensure data integrity – essential for modern, digitised energy systems.
Adapting to extreme weather events
Working with islands presents unique challenges, particularly as climate change accelerates. In December 2024, Hurricane Chido hit the island of Mayotte, damaging key infrastructure and delaying on-site demonstrations. This event reinforced the need for energy systems that not only integrate renewables but also withstand extreme weather, prompting MAESHA to further enhance its resilience strategies.
Despite these difficulties, the MAESHA team adapted by turning the problem into an opportunity to ensure continuous development.
“The most impactful achievement of the MAESHA project so far is the integration of all the technical solutions developed in the project into a unique data-sharing platform dedicated to accelerating the energy transition in Mayotte,” says Cecile. “Even though the actual demonstration of the integration of these solutions is carried out mostly in simulation at the moment, due to the strong hurricane which hit Mayotte in December 2024, it is still a very positive achievement to be able to demonstrate the joint operation of these different tools and their expected impact on CO₂ emission reduction and improved energy access in Mayotte.”
Bridging the awareness gap
While technical advancements drive MAESHA, stakeholder engagement is equally crucial to its long-term success. This is where EuroQuality plays a pivotal role, leading the project’s communication and dissemination strategy to ensure knowledge transfer across policymakers, investors, and local communities.
“From the start, our goal has been to reach the right audience with the right message,” explains Nadia Moussaïd, Head of Management and Communication Unit at EuroQuality. “We built a strong digital presence, collaborated with sister projects, and developed tailored materials to raise awareness in Mayotte and beyond.”
To effectively reach stakeholders, MAESHA leverages multiple communication channels, including social media, project websites, newsletters, and public events. The goal is to expand awareness beyond the technical experts.
“It is crucial to communicate MAESHA’s impact beyond technical experts because we aim to inspire policy changes, attract investments, and encourage the replication of solutions on other islands, from both the MAESHA project and other EU-funded projects working towards the decarbonisation of EU islands,” adds Nadia.
Engaging stakeholders goes beyond digital strategies. In Mayotte, limited connectivity and low awareness of energy transition topics presented unique challenges. MAESHA tackled this with on-the-ground initiatives, including workshops, community partnerships, and localised communication efforts to build trust and drive participation.
“Energy transition is not just about technology, it’s about people,” says Nadia. “A community-driven, locally adapted approach is not only possible but essential for a sustainable future.”
MAESHA’s next steps
With its foundation established, the MAESHA project is entering a critical phase focused on validating technical solutions, expanding community engagement, and refining a replicability framework for other European islands.
Key priorities include:
- Assessing simulation results to improve system performance;
- Strengthening community engagement to facilitate smooth adoption;
- Developing a strategy for scaling impacts beyond Mayotte.
A major lesson learned so far is that resilience must be central to island energy planning, ensuring systems can adapt to natural disasters and policy changes. MAESHA partners are committed to proving that smart, secure, and community-driven energy transitions are already underway, with Mayotte serving as an example for wider adoption.
The project is not just about technology but also transforming the way islands produce and use energy. By prioritising innovation, resilience, and local empowerment, MAESHA aims to lead islands toward fossil-free, self-sufficient energy systems. Insights gained from the pilot will help follower islands (St. Barth, Gran Canaria, Favignana, La Réunion, Gozo, and Madeira) and others to reduce fossil fuel dependence and integrate renewable solutions for a sustainable future.
As MAESHA enters its next phase, the journey towards fossil-free island energy systems accelerates. Follow along as we turn vision into reality and redefine the future of island sustainability.
