National Energy Conference focuses on decarbonisation of local industry.
Increased investment in renewables and a greater emphasis on energy efficiency are essential elements in Malta’s plan for a decarbonised future, while also protecting families and businesses from future energy market volatility.
Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Enterprise Miriam Dalli highlighted the close correlation between green energy and energy efficiency and the affordability and sustainability of the energy sector. Dr Dalli was addressing the 2023 National Energy Conference organised by the Energy and Water Agency (EWA) and the University of Malta’s Institute for Sustainable Energy.
The second edition of this annual conference brought together industry players, academia, banking institutions, government entities, and other stakeholders to discuss different approaches that can help industrial sector decarbonisation.
Minister Dalli explained that Malta’s industry and households are already highly electrified, while certain sectors, such as road transport, are becoming increasingly dependent on electricity as well. It is of vital importance that the country’s electricity supply becomes even more green.
“While we push for further deployment of land-based PV installations, we are aware of our spatial constraints. With the launch of the policy for offshore renewable energy, we aim to attract significant investment in this new, important sector. This promising technology can complement PVs in the decarbonisation of the power sector. The policy is currently also undergoing a strategic environmental assessment to ensure the least possible impact on the environment and other maritime activities,” Miriam Dalli said.
Businesses also need to invest in energy efficiency. “Several energy efficiency measures have short payback periods and provide long-term benefits. Such actions need to go hand in hand with measures supporting renewable energy to optimise the cost efficiency of the energy transition,” the minister added.
Energy and Water Agency CEO Manuel Sapiano explained that through the National Energy Conference and similar activities, the agency is building a robust information base that contributes to informed policy development.
Prof. Valerie Sollars, Pro-Rector for Strategic Planning and Sustainability at the University of Malta, stressed the need for industry to work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 9, concerning industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
The conference was also addressed by Professor Jaquelin Cochran, Director at the Grid Planning and Analysis Centre at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States; Nikolaos Kontinakis, from the Energy Efficiency Unit at the European Commission; and Enrico Biele, from the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA).
Through a number of presentations, local companies showed how they are responding to decarbonise the sector. Malta Enterprise and the Malta Chamber of Commerce also participated in the conference.
In a final session, the University of Malta’s Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Stakeholder Support Unit within the Energy and Water Agency gave an overview of recent research and innovation developments in the energy sector, with case studies from different business sectors.
