The Sustainable Energy and Water Conservation Unit and Malta Enterprise are launching an energy efficiency scheme for local industry.

The scheme is intended to support the initial capital costs through a system of tax credits to improve the return on investment and competitiveness.

The unit – as the agency in charge of energy and water policy within the Office of the Prime Minister – analysed the potential for the uptake of co-generation under local climatic and energy demand conditions, in conjunction with energy resource availability and pricing, to identify specific sectors where the technology can be applied cost effectively. High-efficiency cogeneration can effectively deliver between 20 per cent and 40 per cent primary energy savings when the majority of heat production is recovered.  Furthermore, carbon dioxide emissions may be reduced by  up to half. It is particularly suitable for applications such as hotels, hospitals, commercial buildings and specific industrial processes where there is a steady demand for heat and power throughout most of the year.

Malta Enterprise will process the administrative and financial eligibility of the scheme’s procedure, while the agency will process the technical eligibility aspects. Energy efficiency savings from co-generation systems will contribute towards Malta’s 2020 energy efficiency target.