Background information

The state has regularly offered measures by which individuals can purchase solar panels and solar water heaters for their residencies which are subsidised by national funds. With some of these measures having terminated, new measures commenced in 2024. Amongst them was the Renewable Energy Sources Scheme, which supports private individuals (natural persons) to invest in renewable energy sources for use on their residential properties.

Content of measure

The scheme is administered by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services and applies to private individuals for use on their residential properties, and for organisations that are not carrying out an economic activity. The application for a grant is made by the applicant and is divided into two parts: Part A where the individual applies for the grant and must be submitted prior to purchasing the equipment, and Part B which is submitted after the equipment has been paid for and installed, whereby the applicant requests reimbursement.

The grant can cover the cost of photovoltaic generation equipment, inverters, support frames, battery storage equipment and interface modules between standard inverters and battery storage.

The financial support that can be obtained through this scheme can vary depending on what is purchased and its cost. The maximum that can be obtained through the scheme can vary between 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €2,500 per system for PV systems with standard solar inverters, to 80% of eligible costs and up to €7,200 for battery-based systems.

Use of measure

Data on the use of this specific scheme is unavailable.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Social partner involvement in this specific scheme is unclear and does not appear to be notable. However, social partners may have played an indirect role in the on-going provision of this and similar schemes. The Malta Chamber has during 2024 argued that new buildings should be energy self-sufficient. The 2024 budget proposals of the General Workers' Union did not focus on schemes to purchase such equipment but discussed solar rights, whereby they argued that individuals' investment in such systems should not be lost by new construction developments blocking out sunlight.

Views and reactions

No specific views on this scheme could be identified.

Sources

• 01 March 2024: Regulator for Water and Energy Services - 2024 Renewable Energy Sources Scheme (www.rews.org.mt)
• 22 March 2024: Servizz gov - A grant on the purchase of Renewable Energy Systems in the domestic sector – Call 2024/RES (www.servizz.gov.mt)