Government launches new €15 million renewable energy schemes for 2026

Government has launched a €15.3 million package of renewable energy schemes for 2026, offering grants, feed-in tariffs, and long-term contracts aimed at boosting investment in solar energy and battery storage across households and businesses.

Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, together with the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS), launched the 2026 renewable energy initiatives to continue accelerating Malta’s transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy, a government statement said.

“This package reflects government’s continued commitment to move forward in Malta’s energy transition. We are investing in both large-scale infrastructure and households, ensuring families and businesses benefit from cleaner, more affordable energy while strengthening national energy security and resilience,” Dalli said.

REWS CEO Ing. Maria Aquilina said that these initiatives are designed to make renewable energy more accessible at every level.

“From major projects to household systems, REWS remains committed to supporting applicants through clear guidance and effective implementation,” Aquilina said.

The package includes renewable energy initiatives for households and industries in three separate categories.

These include household grant schemes coupled with a Feed-in Tariff supporting investment in photovoltaic systems and battery storage; Feed-in Tariff for installations below 40kWp (applicable to both residential and non-residential); and 2026 Invitations to Bid (ITBs) for large-scale renewable energy projects.

Through the ITBs, government will offer 20-year contracts for a premium per kilowatt-hour (kWh) generated, the statement said.

Projects will be selected through a competitive pay-as-bid process based on cost efficiency and available capacity.

In 2026, two calls consisting of one ITB for each of the categories 40kW up to less than 200kW and 200kW up to less than 1MW, will run concurrently, it said.

The statement said that the capacity available for allocation in each call will be 2.5MW (40kW up to less than 200kW) and 5000kW (200kW up to less than 1MW).

This means that a total of 15MW will be available for allocation. The bid price will be capped at €0.14 /kWh, it said.

A separate call for renewable energy installations of 1MW or more will have a capacity allocation of 38MW.

The maximum allowed bid price will be between €0.094/kWh and €0.177/kWh, depending on the type and category of installation.

The statement said that households and non-households that install a small-scale photovoltaic system below 40kWp, and do not benefit from a grant, will continue to receive a Feed-in Tariff of €0.15/kWh, guaranteed for 20 years with a total allocation of 8MWp in 2026.

Over the past three years, 9.2MWp were offered a Feed-in Tariff of €0.15/kWh without a grant. In parallel, REWS will be administering renewable energy schemes for households with a total budget of €15.3 million, including €4.1 million for photovoltaic systems and €11.2 million for battery storage.

Applications open on 20 April, and will remain available until November 2026, or until funds are exhausted, the statement said.

The RES grant scheme offers three options: a PV system with a hybrid inverter; a Hybrid/Battery inverter and battery storage; or battery storage only.

Owners of PV installations on residential premises (even those that do not benefit from any aid on the PV system i.e. no feed-in tariff or grant) and connected to the grid for at least six years may apply for a Hybrid/Battery inverter and battery storage.

An additional 5% financial incentive for the grant scheme will be available for equipment compliant with the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which promotes the production and adoption of clean energy technologies across Europe, the statement said.