The ICE project tackles the key challenge faced by the Channel area in reducing the energy vulnerability of the region. Isolated territories such as islands and peripheral communities of the Channel area are either located at the end of energy distribution networks or depend mainly on fossil fuel generation which can be expensive and vulnerable to supply issues. This implies not only above average carbon emissions, but also higher production and sales costs, energy security issues and lack of resilience as well as higher risk of supply chain disruption. The natural potential of these territories as renewable energy (RE) sources (i.e. marine, wind, solar energy) is currently underexploited and, although feasibility studies have been carried out during the past years, there is the need to move forward to a demonstration phase and towards the transition to a smart energy system.

Furthermore, ICE responds to the territorial need to strengthen cooperation in terms of smart growth. The economic development of this area is currently affected by low investments and the weak competitiveness of local enterprises. The growth and innovation potential of the Channel area should be further maximized by diversifying and sustaining current activities in promising sectors (e.g. marine), supporting the creation of competitive cross-border clusters, assisting SMEs to access funding and support the competitiveness of businesses locally and abroad.