Malta prepares second 2026 renewable energy auction

Malta’s energy regulator is preparing to launch a second round of its competitive bidding process (ITB) for renewable energy projects this year.

The country’s Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS) says the next ITB round will be open for installations ranging from 40 kW to 1,000 kW in size.

REWS has said an invitation to bid document will be published on Monday (August 24). Bids can then be submitted between October 5 and October 12.

The ITB scheme is Malta’s competitive support mechanism for providing long-term financial support for renewable energy projects larger than 40 kW. It provides successful bidders with 20-year contracts for difference, with developers bidding the price at which they are willing to supply electricity.

The government said in a press release published in April that two 2026 ITB calls for projects with capacity between 40kW and 1,000kW could allocate a combined 15 MW, with bids capped at €0.14 ($0.16)/kWh.

The first 2026 ITB round, available to renewable energy projects with a capacity between 40 kW and 200 kW, ran from May 29 to June 5. It attracted three bids, according to REWS data, and two projects, with capacities of 90 kW and 118 kW, were recommended for award at €0.136/kWh each. During the same time period, bids were also opened for projects between 200 kW and 1,000 kW in size. A total eight bids within this capacity limit were received and three – with capacities of 250 kW, 331.05 kW and 600 kW – were recommended for award.

Malta also operates a feed-in tariff scheme for smaller renewable energy systems. Since 2021, the scheme has been limited to installations below 40 kW, with the current tariff set at €0.15/kWh.

Malta’s cumulative solar capacity reached 250 MW by the end of last year, according to figures published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a 12 MW increase on the year prior.

This article has been amended to correct the capacity thresholds for installations under the forthcoming ITB round and to include additional details from the ITB bidding round completed earlier this year.