Mcast and the Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency (Miema) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint Renewable Energy Sources Research Centre focusing on renewable energy sources and environmental sustainability issues.

The centre, which will be set up at Mcast’s Institute of Applied Science, will conduct research on energy and environmental issues, carry out studies and issue publications on related topics, develop and participate in relevant national, EU and international projects, offer support to policymakers, national and local authorities, offer internships to students or research mobility programmes, and organise thematic discussion events, educational and training activities, conferences and seminars.

Mcast and Miema are also collaborating on another research project entitled Crim-Safri, which aims to set up a biomass pilot plant and a biomass research centre focused on promoting the sustainability of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) mainly in the building and construction sector.

The research centre aims to support SMEs to implement sustainable consumption and production strategies, including environmental sustainability and renewable energy exploitation.

The biomass pilot plant will operate in an SME and will convert construction wood waste into energy. This will then be fed directly into the national energy grid, providing the firm with revenue, making it more sustainable and reduce its waste disposal needs.

The pilot research on biomass conversion is expected to show how small firms can become more sustainable by turning their waste into energy.

The project, worth €2.2 million, is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Italia-Malta Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013.