Which island became the first island in the world to become fully energy self sufficient through a combined system of wind power and water based (pumped storage) power generation?

Introduction / Context:
Renewable energy projects around the world aim to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and move communities toward self sufficiency. Some islands have become important case studies because they can balance local wind, solar, and hydro resources more easily than large mainland grids. This question focuses on a pioneering island that achieved full energy self sufficiency using a combined system of wind power and water based pumped storage, making it a landmark project in sustainable energy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is an island that is fully energy self sufficient.
• The key technology combination is wind power plus water based (pumped storage) power.
• Options list El Hierro, Samso, Iceland, and Tasmania.
• We are interested in the first island that became fully energy self reliant using such a system.

Concept / Approach:
El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands belonging to Spain, is widely known as a flagship project in renewable energy. It built a hybrid system in which wind turbines generate electricity and excess energy is used to pump water to an elevated reservoir. When wind production is low, this stored water is released through turbines to generate hydroelectric power, creating a closed loop that allows the island to meet its electricity needs almost entirely from renewable sources. Samso in Denmark is also famous for renewable energy but relies more heavily on wind and biomass rather than a combined wind water pumped storage system in the same pioneering way. Iceland and Tasmania have significant renewable resources but are larger territories and not the specific early example of a fully self sufficient island system described in the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question asks for a specific first of its kind island level project combining wind and water power. Step 2: Recall that El Hierro invested in a wind farm and a pumped storage hydroelectric plant designed to complement each other. Step 3: Understand that this allowed El Hierro to cover its electricity demand largely from renewables and to become an internationally cited model of energy self sufficiency. Step 4: Compare this to Samso, which is also highly renewable but uses a different mix and is more often cited as a community ownership model rather than specifically the first wind water hybrid self sufficient island. Step 5: Recognise that Iceland and Tasmania are large islands or territories with complex national grids that do not match the question's focus on a single small island project.

Verification / Alternative check:
Summaries of renewable energy case studies often describe El Hierro's Gorona del Viento project as one of the earliest and most complete examples of using wind plus pumped storage hydro to achieve near 100 percent renewable coverage on an island grid. The project is frequently highlighted at energy conferences and in reports on sustainable island communities, confirming its status as a first mover in this specific category.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Samso, while a leader in community owned wind and renewable heat, is not usually described in exactly the same terms as a first island fully self sufficient through a combined wind and water pumped storage system. Iceland relies heavily on geothermal and hydropower, but it is a large country and not identified as the specific pioneering island project requested here. Tasmania also has extensive hydro resources but does not fit the precise description in the question. Therefore, these options are not the best match.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may see familiar names like Iceland or Samso and assume that any famous renewable region must be the correct answer. Another pitfall is not noticing the specific phrase combined water and wind power and the emphasis on being the first fully self sufficient island. Carefully matching these details to known case studies helps avoid guessing and leads to the correct identification of El Hierro.

Final Answer:
The island that became fully energy self sufficient using a combined system of wind and water power is El Hierro in the Canary Islands.