Malta’s security of supply can be achieved by addressing the following main objectives, which are detailed in the NECP:

Malta’s security of supply can be achieved by addressing the following main objectives, which are detailed in the NECP:

In the past 10 years, Malta has overhauled its power sector. Inefficient thermal electricity production infrastructure has been upgraded and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel has replaced heavy fuel oil for power generation.

Key milestones of this reform include:

• Malta’s closedown of the Marsa Power Station, which operated on heavy fuel oil.
• Completion of the subsea connection with the European grid through Sicily.
• Commissioning of a new gas-fired, high-efficiency gas turbine power plant, known as Delimara 4, as well as a liquefied natural gas terminal (with a view to replace this with a permanent gas pipeline to Sicily).
• The conversion of Delimara 3, a power plant with eight diesel engines, to run on natural gas instead of heavy fuel oil.

Several independently owned photovoltaic (solar) installations support local power generation. The overall connection capacity of these installations at the end of 2021 was 205 MW_p, with the largest photovoltaic installation in Malta having a capacity of 5.4 MW_p.

Developments in the power generation sector have resulted in significant energy savings and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, investments in the power generation sector have increased the plants’ overall conversion efficiency from 25–30% to around 50%.

To ensure security of supply in case of an emergency, Malta maintains a reserve emergency plant comprising four gasoil-fired engines located at Delimara Power Station. The emergency facilities also include a single power plant located at the now largely decommissioned Marsa Power Station. 

To achieve the EU’s climate and energy goals, EU member states must improve cross-border electricity interconnections. In case of emergencies that trigger electricity supply disruptions, EU countries need to be able to rely on their neighbours to support their electricity supply. What’s more, interconnectivity also boosts the security of the EU-wide electricity supply and enables the integration of more renewables into the wider energy system.

Since 2015, Malta’s electricity grid has been linked to the trans-European network via the Malta-Italy subsea interconnector, which has enhanced the robustness of Malta’s electricity system and strengthened our security of supply.

What is ‘electricity interconnectivity’?

Electricity interconnectivity refers to power which canbe transmitted through electricity cables connected to neighbouring countries as a portion of the total generation capacity of local power facilities.

The EU electricity interconnectivity target requires each EU country to have electricity cables that allow at least 15% of the electricity produced by local power plants to be transported across borders. As shown in the graph, Malta is currently exceeding the EU’s 2020 and 2030 targets with an electricity interconnection level of 26%. It is estimated that the investment into a second interconnector in 2026 would increase Malta’s interconnectivity level to 47%.

To ensure electricity grid stability while increasing Malta’s use of renewable energy sources, the Energy & Water Agency has identified the need for both the grid operator, Enemalta, and owners of home power generators (such as solar panels) to invest in supporting infrastructure.

On a sunny day when electricity demand is not very high, the electricity generated by solar panels may make up more than 50% of the total energy required by households and businesses.

However, on cloudy days, there will be a greater reliance on Malta’s relatively small electricity grid. Add to this a surge of demand during periods of high cloud cover and it becomes clear that dependence on solar power alone is unwise.

At the Energy & Water Agency, we are researching a range of supporting technologies to avoid instances where Enemalta would have to cater for the unforeseen loss of more than half of the country’s energy generation capacity at certain hours. That is why, together, the Maltese Government and Enemalta are looking into battery storage solutions as a potential energy source to sure-up the grid – because grid instability is presently one of the biggest barriers limiting Malta’s renewable energy potential beyond 2020.  

The graph shows the projected minimum electricity used on Sundays (the day with the lowest hourly electricity peaks) and the amount of supporting photovoltaic (solar) power generated at these times.

As an island with limited energy sources, Malta currently imports all its conventional energy sources. From natural gas to produce electricity to fuels used in road transport, aviation, heating and cooling, Malta relies heavily on the imports of energy sources.

The Energy & Water Agency aims to reduce Malta’s dependency on imported energy by using our indigenous renewable energy sources to their full potential.

Here is the range of imported energy sources Malta currently uses:

Malta’s electricity generation and supply depend on the security of its gas supply. Should our gas supply be disrupted, electricity generation will be impacted.

For this reason, a risk assessment, Preventive Action Plan and Emergency Plan are required by each EU member state to ensure the security of each country’s gas supply (as per EU Regulation 2017/1938, the Gas Security of Supply Regulation). The Energy & Water Agency was tasked with developing these plans for Malta and has submitted all three to the European Commission. The Plans are available on the Ministry website.

Below is the process followed:

EU member states must also identify national electricity crisis scenarios and develop a Risk Preparedness Plan (as per the Electricity Risk Preparedness Regulation). The plan must identify preventive and emergency measures and state the responsibilities of national entities in the event of an electricity crisis.

In the case of exceptional events that disrupt electricity supply, sites that provide essential services, such as critical health facilities, must maintain a continuous electricity supply. To this end, the Energy & Water Agency is assisting the Ministry and Enemalta with the implementation of the following actions:

In the afore-mentioned plans we have also determined that the risk of electricity supply disruption can be mitigated by:

1. Maximising our use of the electricity interconnector with Sicily.
2. Maximising other forms of on-island (gasoil-fired) energy generation.
3. Reducing electricity demand.