This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.

Overview

While the annual consumption of electricity in Malta is less than 2,500 GWh, with the increase in the tourist and domestic base, the demand for electrical generation will continue to rise.  Malta has worked to diversify and modernize its electrical grid in recent years, transitioning from inefficient coal- and heavy oil-fueled domestic production to an approach using natural gas, oil for backup, and an electricity interconnector with Sicily.  The nation switched on a new gas-fired power station in April 2017.  The next step is a $400 million Malta-Italy gas pipeline, which will replace the permanently moored gas tanker currently supplying the power plant; the government plans to make this operational by 2024.  Stretching over a span of 159 km, the pipeline will connect Malta to the European Gas Network Grid.  The two landing points will be in Delimara, Malta and Gela, Italy.

The share of renewables in gross final consumption of energy is one of the significant targets set for each Member State within the Europe 2020 strategy; Malta’s share target is set at ten percent.  Renewable energy consumption figures released by Eurostat in 2017 placed Malta next to last among EU countries.  Energy from renewable sources amounted to only five percent of energy consumed in Malta.

Opportunities

Malta has not yet adopted renewable energy solutions beyond solar power, although it has studied several possibilities.  Increases in energy costs worldwide have given new impetus to this work, since Malta imports nearly all of its energy.  The government continues to explore additional possibilities for solar power generation and employing other alternative energy sources (see Waste section for related opportunities).  U.S. suppliers of renewable solutions may therefore find opportunities in Malta.

Opportunities also exist for U.S. manufactures of green transportation because Malta’s clean energy vehicle targets are 20 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030.  The Maltese Government has issued schemes aimed at encouraging ownership of electric vehicles, reducing the number of old motor vehicles on the road and thus reducing emissions. 

Web Resources

Malta Resources Authority
Enemalta Corporation
Ministry for Energy and the Conservation of Water

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