Electricity in Malta in 2023/2024

Over the past year, from July 2023 to June 2024, Malta's electricity consumption has been heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with more than 85% of the electricity generated from gas. Clean energy sources make up a smaller portion, contributing just over 14% to the electricity mix. Among these low-carbon sources, solar energy is notably prevalent, contributing almost all of the low-carbon electricity with around 14% of the total electricity generation. Other clean energy sources like biofuels have a negligible impact, contributing close to none in the overall mix.

Suggestions

To increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Malta could further expand its solar energy capacity since solar already forms a significant portion of its clean energy mix. Lessons can also be drawn from other successful countries that have focused extensively on low-carbon technologies. For instance, countries like France and Slovakia rely heavily on nuclear energy, generating 67% and 60% of their electricity from this source, respectively. Considering Malta's climate and geographical proximity, Greece successfully integrates wind energy to make up 21% of its electricity mix. There’s an opportunity for Malta to explore a combination of expanding solar infrastructure and evaluating the feasibility of incorporating nuclear or wind energy technologies.

History

Looking at the history of low-carbon electricity in Malta, significant developments have been relatively recent. Solar energy saw a small increase in 2023, contributing an additional 0.2 TWh of electricity. However, this gain was temporary, and in the subsequent year (2023/2024), solar generation decreased by the same amount. For over a decade before this, from 2010 to 2022, there was no significant change in solar or biofuels electricity generation. This long period of stagnation suggests that efforts to boost low-carbon electricity, particularly solar energy, have only begun to take more decisive shape in recent years. This relatively recent push underscores the urgent need for Malta to accelerate its transition to greener electricity sources.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources