Tuesday, February 12, 2013

THE ELECTRIC ECO ISLAND


Ærø Landscape


The small island called Ærø (Aeroe), with a flag very similar to the Rastafari flag and the world's largest Solar Panel Plant along with a bunch of windmills all over the island, is expanding its green profile.




Red Sky



The latest great news from Ærø is their new little armada of Electric Cars (2013). Since the Island is rather small, one never needs to run out of energy as there are chargers installed in strategic places.




The cars can be rented from the local tourist agency during the summer when the island is packed with tourists that flock the almost too good to be true romantic and lovely little Danish Micro Cosmos of classic Danishness and cozyness. The rest of the year the cars are used by the municipality for hospice services around the island. One could say that we all live on an island. The island we move around on a daily basis; Home, work, shopping, school and close friends. Most of these places are withing a "island radius" and it it is really here the electric car is perfect. If they all can just be charged by windmills on that island...





Ærø also has one of the most colorful Ferrys seen by mankind, painted by the Danish artist duo "Randi and Katrine". Life on Ærø revolves around the ferry; who is on it, who just came to the island, who is leaving, what happened on the ferry.


The next ferry adventure on Ærø is the brand new Electric Ferry called "Ellen". It is the first all-electric passenger and vehicle ferry, funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Programme. On Ærø, where there is both plenty of Solar Power and Windmills, most likely the Electric Ferry will be charged by the power generated on the Island.



The above image was taken on Ærø in 2008 and was used for the CO2 E - Race, that was produced in connection to COP15 - The UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen 2009.



In above video you can see another brilliant initiative that is happening on Ærø!



Pop Up Gallery on Ærø in 2015 called "Galleri Fuglsang" where the Bough Bike was also exhibited.


Ærø is also known for its lovely girls that can be seen above enjoying the Electric Bough Bike in Galleri Fuglsang.


Another new feature in Ærøskøbing this summer is the mural painting in the entrance of Restaurant MUMM by Trine Sørensen and Anita van Wenkenes.



Above video from the opening reception with the artists and the classic song "På Ærø På Ærø På Ærø"



The Burning Dog performance is another annual tradition on Ærø, in connection to the Art and Music Festival "Ærø Dog Days" 



More about Ærø HERE
Another set of photos and story about Ærø HERE