Malta seeks floating solar farms to boost clean energy

VALLETTA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Maltese government on Wednesday issued a call for floating solar farms, which will be located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of the Mediterranean island.

With a potential for 50 megawatts of clean energy, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Regeneration of the Grand Harbor Miriam Dalli issued a preliminary market consultation to assess the market readiness for the floating solar farms in Maltese territorial waters.

The consultation process was launched by the ministry and the Regulator for Energy and Water Services. It identified an area off the south coast as the first possible site for the development of grid-connected floating solar technology projects.

Dalli explained that the government is committed to stimulating the required green energy investments to attain Malta's ambitious decarbonization and sustainability goals.

"The share of renewables in our energy mix is increasing every year. However, in a small island state, spaces for renewables on land are limited," she said. "We believe that the vast opportunities offered by our seas can be an important solution."

The site was identified due to its proximity to the electricity infrastructure, allowing for a more secure connection to the national grid, and minimal transmission losses.

The market consultation aims to solicit proposals from operators for the deployment of floating solar technology projects, including photovoltaic farms, extending up to 12 nautical miles off the coast. This process will allow the government to assess the current market preparedness for such projects, and support ongoing technical studies.

It is also working on a separate process for investment in offshore renewable energy systems, such as floating wind farms, in Malta's exclusive economic zone.