Malta

Key facts

Malta produces 2344 GWh of electricity per year

Malta imports 23% of their electricity consumption [1]

Malta is 40% electrified making it the more electrified country in the EU.

 

Malta does not have a network of gas pipelines.

 

Malta does not track its electricity to gas price ratio.

Malta’s electricity mix is split between natural gas which represents the overwhelming majority (86%) and solar PV (13%), oil represents 0.7%
  • Natural Gas
  • Solar PV
  • Oil

Current state of electrification

Residential buildings in Malta

Buildings

  • Buildings are the first consumers of electricity in Malta with 42.6% of the final electricity consumption going to commercial and public services and 37% going to residential. [2]
  • Malta has an estimated total stock of about 42,289 heat pumps used for space heating and roughly 123,108 units used for space cooling. [3]

Industry

  • Industry consume 18% of the final electricity consumption [4]
  • The main industrial electricity consumers are: [5]
    • Food, beverage, and tobacco: 0.05 to 0.07 TWh | 24% to 28% of industrial electricity
    • Machinery, electronic equipment, and metal goods: 0.04 to 0.06 TWh | 18% to 22% of industrial electricity
    • Printing, paper, and publishing: 0.03 to 0.04 TWh | 13% to 17% of industrial electricity
Transport — from the design

Transport

  • Transport consume 0.7% of the final electricity consumption [6]
  • The total number of vehicles comes from the Maltese national statistics office [7]
  • The electric fleet is composed of: [8]
  • 10 310 Electric cars (+1 170 year on year) — this represents 3.08% of the ~335 000 passenger cars on Maltese roads
  • 616 light commercial vehicles (+70 year on year) — this represents roughly 1.03% of the ~60 000 commercial goods vehicles on Maltese roads
  • 54 buses (+40 year on year) — this represents roughly 4.15% of the ~1 300 buses and minibuses on Maltese roads
  • 4 trucks (+1 year on year) — this represents roughly 0.10% of the ~4 000 heavy trucks and road tractors on Maltese roads
  • 5 444 light vehicles (+400 year on year) — this represents roughly 17.01% of the ~32 000 motorcycles, mopeds, and light vehicles under 4 wheels on Maltese roads

Grid and flexibility

Transmission & Distribution

Malta’s electricity grid is operated by Enemalta, the national provider.
It relies on local gas and oil power plants, high-penetration rooftop solar PV, and an undersea interconnector with Sicily.
The grid faces acute stress from summer heatwaves and surging demand, prompting accelerated infrastructure upgrades and plans for a second interconnector [9] [10]

Storage

Malta currently has virtually zero operational grid-scale electricity storage capacity, though a major 84 MWh / 40 MW state-backed battery program is underway to address this gap [11]

Smart meters

Malta has over 350,000 smart electricity meters installed nationwide. Malta was one of the earliest EU Member States to achieve a mass rollout of smart meters. It surpassed the EU’s 80% deployment target back in 2017. [12]

Support schemes

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) & Storage
REWS Renewable Energy Sources Scheme (2026 Package) [13]
  • PV + Battery: Up to €9,000 (~75% of eligible cost)
  • Commercial/Industrial: ITBs with 20-year feed-in premium tariff
  • Applies to primary residences & non-economic entities.
  • ITBs target commercial rooftop systems from 40 kWp up to 1 MWp.
  • Applies to primary residences & non-economic entities.
  • ITBs target commercial rooftop systems from 40 kWp up to 1 MWp.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
REWS Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme [14]
  • 50% grant up to €1,400 per household (incl. VAT)
  • Must replace inefficient resistive electric water heaters.
  • Part A approval required before purchase.
  • Must replace inefficient resistive electric water heaters.
  • Part A approval required before purchase.
Electric Vehicles (Light-Duty)
Transport Malta EV Grant & Scrappage Scheme [15]
  • New BEVs: €8,000 to €11,000 grant (based on vehicle category/tier)
  • Scrappage Bonus: Additional €1,000 to €2,000
  • Micro-mobility: €500 per pedelec
  • Scrapped vehicle must be >10 years old.
  • Gozo residents receive an additional €1,000 scrappage bonus.
  • BEVs pay €10/year road tax and 0% registration tax.
  • Scrapped vehicle must be >10 years old.
  • Gozo residents receive an additional €1,000 scrappage bonus.
  • BEVs pay €10/year road tax and 0% registration tax.
EV Charging & Fleet Transformation
Transport Malta Infrastructure & Service Grants [16]
  • Private Charging: Reduced off-peak EV charging tariffs.
  • Fleet/Importer Aid: Grants up to €25,000 for fleet service garage upgrades.
  • Supports retraining garage personnel and adapting service centers for zero-emission vehicles.
Building Renovation & Roof Insulation
Irrinova Darek / REWS Roof Insulation Scheme [17]
  • 75% to 90% grant capped at €15,000 – €16,000 for insulation & restoration
  • Higher rates (90%) apply to low-income / In-Work Benefit recipients.
  • Covers thermal insulation, solar systems, and building facade restoration.
Industrial Decarbonization & Efficiency
Malta Enterprise Investment Aid for Energy Efficiency [18]
  • Cash Grants or Tax Credits: Up to 30%–50% of eligible extra costs for energy efficiency upgrades
  • Requires an accredited energy audit demonstrating a ≥10% reduction in overall facility energy consumption.
  • Minimum project investment threshold of €10,000.

Targets

Buildings

  • 25.71% RES heating/cooling share by 2030; heat pump water heater grants. [19]

Transport

  • 65,000 electric vehicles goal: A national milestone targeting 65,000 electric passenger cars and light utility vehicles on the road by 2030. [20]

Industry

  • No industry target

Gaps and Challenges

Malta presents a unique electrification profile defined by its island setting, high overall electrification rate (40%), and heavy dependency on natural gas for power generation (86%), supplemented by solar PV (13%) and net imports via a subsea interconnector (23%).

National grid operator Enemalta faces acute seasonal thermal stress, as intense summer heatwaves coincide with surging cooling demand and high solar PV input. While high smart meter deployment (>95%) provides strong digital monitoring capabilities, grid stability remains vulnerable due to a complete absence of utility-scale battery storage.

The building sector is the primary consumer of electricity,. While space heating demands are limited by Malta’s Mediterranean climate, summer cooling and water heating dominate consumption. Electrification is slowed by high building density, spatial roof constraints for solar integration, and high upfront investment requirements for deep structural retrofits.

Transport accounts for a minimal share of total electricity consumption, and while light-duty EV adoption is supported by Transport Malta grants (up to €11,000), the total fleet of 10,310 electric cars remains far below the national milestone of 65,000 EVs by 2030. Heavy commercial transport remains virtually un-electrified with only 4 electric trucks nationwide.

In industry demand is concentrated in light manufacturing. Although Malta Enterprise offers investment aid covering 30%-50% of energy efficiency costs, the sector lacks a formal national electrification target, leaving process fuel-switching dependent on voluntary business incentives.

Assessment

Buildings

At risk

Buildings represent 79.6% of total electricity consumption (42.6% commercial, 37% residential). While domestic heat pump water heater grants and insulation schemes exist, meeting the 25.71% renewable heating/cooling target faces obstacles from high summer cooling loads and urban building density.

Transport

At risk

Electricity use in transport is exceptionally low (0.7%). Despite generous purchase grants (up to €11,000), current EV numbers (10,310 cars) are at roughly 16% of the 65,000 target for 2030, and heavy freight electrification has barely begun (4 electric trucks).

Industry

On track

Industry accounts for 18% of electricity consumption, concentrated in specialized light manufacturing (computer/electronics 20.2%, food 11.4%). Malta Enterprise support schemes (30%–50% investment aid) provide a steady framework for efficiency, even in the absence of a dedicated sectoral electrification target.

Power system

At risk

High reliance on fossil gas (86%) and imported power (23%) means direct electrification currently shifts end-use demand to gas-fired generation, keeping the primary energy mix exposed to external fossil price shocks and single-interconnector risks.

Grids

On track

Severe distribution pressure during summer heatwaves is being proactively addressed. Early mass rollout of smart meters (>95%), an upcoming 40 MW / 84 MWh utility battery deployment, and plans for a 2nd interconnector with Sicily provide a clear technical roadmap to resolve local bottlenecks.

Policy framework

On track

Highly targeted support schemes exist for key sectors—including REWS grants for solar PV, battery storage, and heat pump water heaters, alongside Transport Malta EV subsidies and Malta Enterprise industrial aid aligned with national goals.

  1. 1IEA, “Country profile, Malta”, accessible here.
  2. 2IEA, “Country profile, Malta”, accessible here.
  3. 3JRC publications, “Malta: sttatus of the heat pump market”, accessible here.
  4. 4IEA, “Country profile, Malta”, accessible here.
  5. 5NSO, “Non residential smart meter statistics: 2024” accessible here.
  6. 6IEA, “Country profile, Malta”, accessible here.
  7. 7NSO, “Road Transport”, accessible here.
  8. 8European Commission, “Alternative Fuels Observatory: Malta”, accessible here.
  9. 9Energy and Water Agency, “Grid Stability”, accessible here.
  10. 10Dtf, “Malta’s Energy Shift Strengthens the Grid Behind Cleaner Ports”, accessible here.
  11. 11MDPI, “Utility scale storage integration in the maltese medium voltage distribution network”, accessible here.
  12. 12Regulatory for Energy & water services, “REWS National Report to the European Commission on the Electricity and Natural Gas Sectors in Malta”, accessible here.
  13. 13Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS), "Renewable Energy Schemes & Feed-in Tariffs", accessible here
  14. 14Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS), "Water Heater Scheme & Domestic Energy Efficiency Grants", accessible here
  15. 15Transport Malta, "Financial Grant Scheme for the Purchase of Electric Vehicles and Scrappage Scheme", accessible here
  16. 16Transport Malta, "Sustainable Transport Grants & EV Charging Infrastructure Initiatives", accessible here here
  17. 17Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS) & Ministry for Environment, Energy and Regeneration, "Grant Scheme for Roof Insulation and Secondary Glazing (Irrinova Darek)", accessible here
  18. 18Energy and Water Agency (EWA) & Malta Enterprise, "Investment Aid Scheme for Energy Efficiency Projects", accessible here
  19. 19Energy & water agency, “2030 national energy and climate plan”, accessible here.
  20. 20UNFCCC, “Malta Low Carbon Development Strategy”, accessible here.