Solar panels will cover some 13,000 square meters on two state-owned reservoirs following a public private partnership agreement signed today.

The GRTU and Water Services Corporation signed the shareholders’ agreement this afternoon, setting up Malta Energy Ltd – a new company which will provide renewable energy to the national supply through solar panels.

The panels are expected to produce around 1 megawatt of energy annually and will contribute towards Malta reaching it’s 2020 renewable energy targets.

Minister Konrad Mizzi attended the signing ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister, and said the government was committed to a green energy policy.

The government had implemented some 90 megawatts of renewable energy over the past four years, he said, adding that it had started with “almost nothing”.

The government, Dr Mizzi said, wanted to produce some 200 megawatts annually, and to achieve this it needed “ a bit push”. That was why the private sector was an important player, he added.

Through this latest PPP, the WSC will be providing the sites for the solar panels and the GRTU will be issuing a tender for suppliers interested in entering an agreement to supply the panels.

This is the second such agreement this month.

Last week the WSC set up another company with the Malta Developers’ Association.

The new company, Malta Developers Green Energy Ltd, will be installing solar panels on other reservoirs and land owned by the corporation. It will also produce around a megawatt of electricity – enough for about 400 families.