Samso, the Danish island living off-grid

A line of wind turbines off the island's southern tip Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

A field of solar panels heats water to 70C, which is then piped to local houses for heating Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

Like many of Samso's 4,100 residents, electrician Brian Kjar is a new recruit to eco energy Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

'We are not hippies,' says Soren Harmensen, the project's mastermind Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

A home in the Nordby area of Samso Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

Horses on the island Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

Farmer Jorgen Tranberg sitting astride the wind turbine he has erected on his own land Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

A local fisherman enjoys the island's remoteness Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

A home in the island's Brundby area Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

The harbour in Ballen Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

Jasper Kjems was a freelance journalist based in Copenhagen when he and his wife came to Samso for a holiday four years ago. They fell in love with the island and now Jasper is the official spokesman for the Samso project Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

A beach close to the city of Ballen Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne

Wind turbines are everywhere in Samso, including the cornfields Photograph: Nicky Bonne/Nicky Bonne