The energy transition on the Aegean islands is finally shifting gear. In June, prime minister Mitsotakis and the CEO of the global carmaker Volkswagen, Herbert Diess, visited the small island of Astypalea located in the Aegean Sea. The goal of a joint project between the Greek government and VW is to turn Astypalea into a “green and smart” island, replacing all cars on the island of 1,300 inhabitants with electric vehicles. The project shall demonstrate how the switch to an integrated and comprehensive energy system based on renewable energy can be managed at small scale, basically turning Astypalea into a real-life energy laboratory.