HYBES Project Partner Receives Interreg NPA Award
The Faroese Environment Agency (FEA), represented by Bjarti Thomsen, a partner in the HYBES project, received the Interreg NPA Award for Sustainable and Inclusive Use of Resources at the 25th Anniversary Conference of the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic programme in Bodø, Norway, from 30 September to 2 October 2025.
The conference theme, “Connecting the Dots: 25 Years of Cooperation in the NPA,” underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing regional challenges and building a sustainable future. The award ceremony, held during the conference dinner on October 1, recognised transnational projects that demonstrate cooperation, sustainability, and innovation across the Northern Periphery and Arctic regions.
FEA and Thomsen were recognised for their work in HYBES, COPOWER, EMERGREEN, SECURE, and SMARTRENEW, with Thomsen contributing to four projects (three for FEA) and FEA partnering in four, one of which was represented by another employee. All projects contributed to turning ecological challenges into opportunities, demonstrating how sustainable, community-focused resource management creates shared value.
“This Award highlights how collaboration between NPA regions contributes to sustainable development, solidarity, and innovation in the region, and aims to inspire continued success and shared learning across each single person who makes Interreg NPA happen," said Kirsti Mijnhijmer, Head of Secretariat, Interreg NPA.
One of the projects mentioned in the award was HYBES. The project aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in remote Arctic communities by developing flexible hybrid energy systems. Project partners focus on building climate change adaptation capacity, improving resource sufficiency, promoting energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the northern periphery.
“This award recognises not only our project but the collective achievement of all partners working across borders for a greener, more inclusive Arctic,” said Bjarti Thomsen of the Faroese Environment Agency upon receiving the award at the gala dinner.
