Creating an energy model of Malta - assessment of the current situation

Abstract

Energy systems modeling has become an important tool to assist decision makers in energy planning efforts. For two main reasons energy models are turning more complex: 1) Energy security and climate change concerns stimulate the integration of larger shares of renewable energy options into the overall system, which involves the challenges of intermittency, energy storage and grid stability. 2) It has been realized that adequate energy modeling efforts need to go far beyond the technological aspects to take into account such macroeconomic goals as high employment and balance of payments, and include the impact on the environment. As a first step in the course of creating a complex energy model that considers all the advantages and disadvantages of various renewable and fossil energy options to achieve selected optimum levels of the overall energy mix with regard to sustainability, affordability, energy security, employment and other factors, the Maltese energy situation has been reviewed to assess the status quo and the officially proposed energy plans.