Energy

Developments in the energy sector have a direct effect on the economic and social progress of Malta, as also on the rest of world.  The Energy Unit within the Agency has the role to guide the Maltese Government into drafting and implementing energy policies that would provide Malta, security of supply, economic progress and environmental sustainability. The Unit is called to prepare and put into action national objectives, while having the responsibility to follow the workings of the institutions within the European Union and their energy portfolio.  The Unit represents Malta in various discussions concerning energy Directives and Regulations in order to make sure that Malta continues to provide a protective, competitive and sustainable life to the citizens and enterprises, residing and operating in Malta.

Energy Efficiency

The cheapest form of energy is that which is not consumed, and hence investments in energy saving and energy efficiency have the potential to provide the most attractive rate of return. The EU Directive promoting energy efficiency and obliging Member States to achieve energy saving targets defines energy efficiency as the ratio of the output of the performance, service, goods or energy to the input of energy.

To reduce the energy input required to provide the products and services, energy efficiency measures are implemented.  These measures vary in the various sectors of the economy and most of these energy efficiency measures are also the topic of a number of schemes design by Government to facilitate their introduction, e.g. the vehicle scrappage scheme, the residential roof insulation schemes and the support of actions in the industrial and tertiary sector. These schemes reflect the fact that a collective effort is required from all sectors to compliment the considerable change taken the power utility, Enemalta plc, to upgrade both its electricity generation and its electricity distribution capabilities in order to attain a more secure, viable and sustainable energy sector.

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Energy Saving Tips

Renewable Energy

Energy from renewable sources can be defined as energy from non-fossil fuel sources, namely wind, solar, aerothermal, geothermal, hydro and ocean energy, biomass, and waste streams e.g. landfill gas and gas emanating from sewage treatment plants.

The most abundant source of renewable energy across the Maltese Islands is solar energy.  In line with the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, at the end of 2016, more than 90MW of solar capacity were installed around Malta and Gozo generating more than 120GWh throughout the year. Renewable energy systems have been made viable through various support schemes, both as a grant and/or in the form of a feed-in tariff. The grant schemes enable the applicant to also benefit from a feed-in tariff for a number of years.

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2030 National Energy & Climate Plan

The December 2015 Energy Council Conclusions on the Governance of the Energy Union identified the drawing up of a National Energy and Climate Plan to be adopted by each Member State as an essential component for a reliable and transparent governance system. The National Plan entails the setting out of the national contributions needed to deliver collectively to the EU-level 2030 targets, namely:

  • 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emission;
  • 27% binding renewable energy share;
  • 27% energy efficiency; and
  • 15% electricity interconnections.

The Energy & Water Agency is currently leading a specially set up Inter Ministerial Steering Committee which brings together key stakeholders. The IMSC meets regularly and is currently at a stage of compiling necessary data.

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PCI 5.19 – Gas Interconnectivity

The Malta-Italy gas pipeline interconnection project aims at eliminating Malta’s isolation from the Trans-European gas network, hence contributing towards the integration with the European gas market and improving the security of energy supply to the island. It will deliver natural gas more efficiently, eliminating the need for liquefaction, shipping and regasification as in the case with LNG. In November 2017, the project was once again listed as a Project of European Common Interest under the third PCI List, thus benefitting from accelerated permit granting, improved regulatory treatment and financial support through grants for both works and studies under the Connecting Europe Facility programme (CEF). As from 2013, the pipeline project has been advancing with a constant pace, reaching one milestone after the other. The latest milestone reached was during Summer 2017, when the permit applications together with their supporting documentation were submitted to the Maltese and Italian Competent Authorities. From this point onward, intensified environmental, marine and engineering design studies shall be conducted with the aim of obtaining the necessary permits by 2020. The plan is to have the pipeline commissioned by 2024.

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LNG in Malta

When compared to other fossil fuels, natural gas (NG) has significantly lower CO2 emissions per unit of energy produced. In fact, NG produces 37% less greenhouse gas emissions when compared to Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and 33% less when compared to gasoil. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is simply cooled down natural gas to a temperature of -1600C, which makes it easier to store and transport. Indeed, LNG takes up only 1/600 of the volume occupied by natural gas when in its natural ‘gaseous’ form at atmospheric pressure.

Apart from power generation, LNG is also used for transportation purposes. In fact, the Energy and Water Agency is embarking into a new study to determine the technical feasibility and cost analysis of introducing LNG as a Marine Fuel in the Maltese ports and waters.

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Other Projects & Initiatives

The Energy Policy Unit participates in several EU funded project, schemes and initiatives aimed at supporting the development of related policy initiatives in the Maltese islands, whilst also spreading knowledge on how to reduce energy consumption. 

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