Impacts on the grid from wind energy generators at prospective sites around the Maltese Islands

Abstract

The threat of global warming, dwindling fossil fuel resources, increasing fuel prices and the liberalization of the electricity generation has changed the context in which electricity distribution systems are regulated and operated. Malta, as member of the European Union (EU) is obliged by the European Commission (EC) to reach specific energy and environmental targets by 2020. One of the obligations is to have 10% of the energy demand generated from renewable sources by 2020. Malta is promoting renewable energy sources through incentive schemes in order to reach this target while reducing the emissions of green house gases (GHG). The integration of renewable energy resources with for electricity grid is presenting a new challenge to the electricity distribution network operator (DNO). The electricity distribution system is no longer being seen as passive, where power flows from the main generation system to energy consumers, but it is becoming an active one, where consumers are also generating electricity, instigating a bi-directional power flow.