Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1385129
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 JUNE 2021 NEWS Public Consultation 15th June - 13th July 2021 info@cleanervehicles.gov.mt www.environment.gov.mt A second interconnector for Malta could significantly reduce the use of Delimara's gas-pow- ered plants, according to the just-published national energy strategy. In fact the two gas plants oper- ated by Electrogas and Shanghai Electric could eventually serve as back-up plants after 2030, while still being a fundamental part of the energy mix between 2020 and 2030 when energy demand from residences is ex- pected to climb by a staggering 32%. Malta's Low Carbon Energy Strategy foresees total electric- ity demand, including the shift to electric cars, to increase by 33% between 2020-2030 and a further 23% between 2030 and 2040. A second electricity intercon- nector will be "heavily reducing the further use of gas for elec- tricity generation" with the ex- isting power plants eventually being "utilised for grid balanc- ing or backup in case of con- straints on the use of the inter- connectors". The strategy casts a sobering light on Malta's challenge to reduce carbon emissions as re- quired by the EU's overarching goal of carbon neutrality, while still securing economic growth. Malta's major reduction in carbon emissions will take place between 2030 and 2040 when emissions decrease from the current 2,300 kilotonnes of carbon, to 1,700 in 2030, and less than 500 in 2050. But emissions from the natural gas plants will grow from 2020 to 2030 as plant utilisation in- creases, a period coinciding with Electrogas's 18-year pow- er and gas purchase agreement. Although natural gas produc- es less emissions than heavy fuel oil, its increased use in the next decade will still result in an increase in emissions, which government wants to partial- ly offset with its second inter- connector to Ragusa in Sicily, tagged at €170 million and expected to be completed by 2025. Based on projected price developments in the Sicilian electricity market, it is also expected that a larger share of energy demand will be met by electricity imports. This will be complemented by additional renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind farms while reducing the use of gas plants. Still, the dependence on a sec- ond interconnector has been criticised by the Green Party ADPD, which warns that the interconnector will not reduce overall emissions, but shift them to a source of energy gen- eration abroad, and which could still be subjected to an EU-wide carbon tax. This could cause the price of electricity gener- ated from fossil fuels to shoot up, irrespective of whether it is bought over the interconnector or not. Renewable sources The government plan is to have an offshore farm generate 870 GigaWatt-hours by 250, and 3,000 GWh from electricity imports. But the renewable en- ergy share will still depend on technology breakthroughs from offshore marine renewables. No mention is made of the blocking of access to sunlight by rampant building develop- ment, or a more solid regulatory framework for planning rules. Technical limitations are ex- pected to place solar roof panels at a peak of 9,127 by 2030, en- suring Malta reaches an 11.5% target share of renewable ener- gy sources. But offshore floating tech- nologies for wind turbines and solar panels are also being con- sidered: one area to the south of Malta of around 15 square-nau- tical miles was considered viable for such offshore renewables. Offshore solar panels could be located between turbinesto maximise the efficiency of shore Second Malta-Sicily cable is key to lower emissions Squaring the circle? Malta faces an enormous challenge in reducing emissions despite the expected increase in energy demand. Malta's low carbon development strategy identifies the second interconnector as the key to lower carbon emissions. James Debono reports