€2.56 Million Solar Farm in Imqabba to Generate Electricity Equivalent to 900 Households
A €2.56 million solar farm developed by telecommunications company Melita on a former quarry site in Imqabba is capable of generating enough renewable electricity to match the consumption of approximately 900 households.
Minister for Energy and the Environment Miriam Dalli visited the facility, which was financed entirely through private investment and is contributing clean electricity directly to Malta's national grid.
Former Quarry Transformed into Solar Energy Facility
The Imqabba solar farm was developed on land previously used as a quarry, demonstrating how former industrial sites can be repurposed for renewable energy generation.
The project benefited from the Invitation to Bid (ITB) scheme administered by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS), which enables qualifying renewable energy projects to receive a favourable tariff for electricity exported to the national grid.
Unlike installations that primarily supply electricity for a company's own operations, the Imqabba solar farm exports all the electricity it generates directly to the national grid.
The facility complements two smaller solar farms already operated by Melita.
Minister Miriam Dalli Encourages Further Private Investment
During her visit, Minister Dalli was accompanied by Melita Chief Executive Officer Harald Roesch and Kevin Borg, the company's Head of Customer Operations and AI Implementation.
The Minister welcomed the investment and encouraged more companies to develop similar renewable energy projects.
“These are the types of projects that we encourage as a country. We want to continue encouraging companies like Melita to increase their use of clean energy sources,” Minister Dalli said.
She added that projects of this kind demonstrate how investment in clean energy can deliver tangible results and help Malta strengthen its renewable energy sector.
Melita Aims to Match 100% of Its Electricity Consumption
Melita currently generates renewable electricity equivalent to more than 40% of its annual electricity consumption.
The company is working on additional renewable energy projects, with the long-term objective of generating enough clean electricity to match 100% of its annual consumption.
The Imqabba project forms part of that wider investment programme and contributes renewable electricity to Malta's national supply.
Supporting Malta's Renewable Energy Transition
The development highlights the role that private investment can play in increasing Malta's renewable energy capacity.
By transforming a former quarry into a solar energy facility, the project also illustrates how previously developed land can be reused for sustainable energy infrastructure.
Minister Dalli said she hoped the initiative would encourage other businesses to invest in clean energy and contribute to Malta's transition towards more sustainable electricity generation.
Photo credit: DOI / Kian Bugeja.
