Enemalta is not buying renewable energy via the interconnector, according to its spokesman – even though doing so would help Malta meet its national targets.
The 120-kilometre Malta-Sicily interconnector connects Malta’s electricity grid with that of continental Europe. Enemalta started importing electricity through the €200 million connection in April 2015.
Under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, by 2020, 10 per cent of the electricity consumed in Malta should come from renewable sources.
The most recent progress report from 2015 indicated that some member states, including Malta, “need to assess whether their policies and tools are sufficient and effective in meeting their renewable energy objectives. In 2013/2014 Malta had a trajectory of only three per cent”, the European Commission representation in Malta said.
The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive promotes cooperation among EU countries to help them meet their renewable energy targets, which can take the form of statistical transfers of renewable energy, joint renewable energy projects and joint renewable energy support schemes.
Malta faces fines should it miss its targets but these have never been quantified
“Yes indeed, Malta could improve its renewable energy performance either through the physical import of renewables or through statistical transfers,” a spokeswoman for the office said.
Enemalta is buying electricity through a five-year framework agreement with Italian energy company Enel Trade, which allows it to participate in the various energy markets. Enemalta said at the time that it opted for a trader to ensure that it retained full flexibility over the use of the interconnector by being able to purchase from whichever market channel offered the most advantageous rates.
The Enemalta spokesman said that the company was “committed to continue supporting Malta in its efforts to meet European green energy targets through other initiatives, including the consolidation of the national electricity distribution network to provide the necessary capacity for further investment in grid-connected renewable energy systems, such as PV panels”.
Questions sent to the Energy Ministry two weeks ago were not answered by the time of going to print.
Malta faces fines should it miss its targets but these have never been quantified.