Malta slightly short of target

Malta is among only five EU member states that are not expecting to meet the Union's renewable energy targets for 2020 unless they import clean energy.

In 10 years' time Malta will be 0.81 per cent short of meeting its target of obtaining 10 per cent of its energy from renewable sources, according to a report issued in Brussels yesterday and based on "very preliminary forecasts" submitted by member states.

But Malta is planning to make up for this shortfall by importing clean energy.

The forecasts show that only Malta, Italy, Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg will not be able to meet their targets on their own steam. On the other hand, the EU as a whole is planning to achieve a slight surplus of 0.3 per cent over its targets.

Still, missing the target marginally would be considered "a big achievement" for the island, according to Commission sources.

"Currently Malta is the only EU member state which still produces no renewable energy and is 100 per cent dependent on fossil fuels, so the country is departing from 0 per cent," a Commission official told The Times yesterday.

"If, as the island is forecasting, Malta manages to produce 9.2 per cent of all its energy requirements from clean sources in just 10 years' time, I can assure you that we will be very happy."

Malta's forecast shows that the island is basing its projections on various clean energy projects including solar and wind energy.

The island's main effort in this area will, however, be a multi-million euro construction of three wind farms, two onshore in Hal Far and Baħrija and one offshore on is-Sikka l-Bajda which should produce 109.4 MW of energy.

Any hitch on these major projects, which according to Malta's forecasts document are still "risk-prone", would throw the island's efforts way off the mark.

EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Ottinger said the forecasts submitted by member states were a very positive sign for the environment, helping the EU to cut its CO2 emissions and at the same time enhance its energy security.

A few years ago the EU had agreed to generate 20 per cent of all its energy needs through renewable energy by 2020. However this is an overall EU average target. Individual member states will have to reach different targets according to progress made so far.

Thus, while Malta's target is 10 per cent, the lowest in the EU, Germany has to reach 18.7 percent while France was asked to go up to 23 per cent.

Countries overshooting their targets - as Spain and Germany are planning to do - are set to profit by selling their excess production to EU partners expected to fall short.