Is Malta ready for renewables? Upgrading the Distribution Network
In Malta, the generation of electricity through renewables is slowly increasing.
Areliable, sustainable and affordable supply of energy is crucial to achieving the transition towards low-carbon energy as laid down in Malta´s Sustainable Development Vision for 2050. To achieve the goals of Agenda 2030´s Sustainable Development Goals and to fulfil the commitment within the EU´s climate and energy package as well as the Paris Agreement, Malta needs to increase energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy. However, integrating renewables into Malta´s electricity grid is known to pose challenges for the electricity distribution network.
To begin with, Malta´s electricity distribution network is relatively old, dating back to the 1960 and 1970s. The ageing infrastructure requires serious upgrades to maintain reliability and safety. This includes being equipped with sufficient cybersecurity. As with any critical infrastructure, Malta´s power grid can be vulnerable to cyberattacks having serious consequences for the reliability and safety of the electricity supply.
Everybody knows that power outages are unfortunately no rarity in Malta. Malta's electricity grid is not rarely succumbing to stability issues, especially through cases of high demand and pressure on the network which consequently exposes faults in cables and connections, as was experienced last year in many localities during summer. Additionally, due to a lack of redundancy, the electricity distribution network is heavily reliant on a single interconnector cable that connects the islands to the European power grid leaving the country vulnerable in case the cable fails or overheats. Moreover, a high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources like solar power makes it difficult to maintain a stable supply of electricity to consumers. When it comes to integrating new renewable energy sources and meeting the increased demand for electricity as the population grows, the limited grid capacity may become more and more of a problem. Not only the growing population will consume more electricity, but also economic growth, the construction and tourism industry and more electric vehicles among others will see electricity demand surge by 25 per cent within the next six years.
One initiative to tackle the issue of grid stability is to not overwhelm the electricity network in the first place. Energy efficiency measures, like energy audits, energy-efficient building codes, and public education campaigns are necessary to reduce energy consumption and are also helpful to lower electricity bills since Malta typically has high electricity prices which can be attributed in part to the cost of importing LNG for power generation.
The government is committed to investing heavily in the country's electricity distribution infrastructure to tackle the growing demand and grid stability issues by upgrading and modernizing the grid, including investments in renewable energy sources and smart grid technology. As in many European countries, diversifying energy sources is on Malta´s agenda to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and increase energy security. Last year in February, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli and Enemalta chairman Jonathan Cardona presented a six-year reinforcement plan comprising €90 million to mitigate distribution problems. The infrastructure project entails investments of €15 million yearly for projects including the construction of a new €8 million, 45-megawatt distribution centre in Naxxar relieving the Mosta centre, 250 new substations costing around €25 million in total, the renovation and modernization of distribution centres in Mrieħel, Tarxien, and Marsascala costing €6 million, and the installation of underground cables costing €15 million. Enemalta plans to upgrade substations with modern switch gears that can be remotely operated from the Marsa distribution centre, which would enable Enemalta staff to restore electricity in households within minutes in the event of power cuts. The company also aims to control voltage levels from domestic solar panels by introducing new technologies to mitigate the challenges they pose to the grid.
Within the first eight months of the six-year reinforcement plan, Enemalta invested over €11 million in among other the extension of Distribution Centres in Tarxien, Imrieħel and Marsascala, seven medium voltage reinforcements affecting several localities, 29 new substations around Malta and Gozo as well as upgrading existing substations. According to Enemalta, power cuts during summer 2022 were reduced by 34%. As of March this year, Marsascala´s Distribution Centre operates at double the capacity reinforcing electricity supply across various localities in the area following a €3 million investment. With a call for the upgrade of a distribution centre in Imsida in progress and plans in the making for another distribution centre in Naxxar, the Maltese Government and Enemalta seem to be on track with the €90 million investment plan.
To conclude, not only investments in renewable energy itself are necessary for a reliable, sustainable and affordable supply of energy, but also serious investment in Malta´s s electricity distribution network. The measures and upgrades currently undertaken by Enemalta are crucial to improving the grid's capacity and reliability in anticipation of a shift towards renewable energy and a sustainable future using floating panels and wind turbines.