Energy production from solar panels increased by 17% last year, when compared to 2017, the NSO said.

Data published by the National Statistics Office showed that the total kilowatt peak (kWp) in 2018 amounted to 131,303.

The domestic sector amounted to 52.1% of the total kWp, followed by 43.8% in the commercial sector and 4.1% in the public sector.

The peak power rating of an average PV system in the domestic sector stood at 2.9kWp, whereas that for the commercial and public sectors amounted to 45.2 and 20.9 kWp respectively.

The stock of PV installations amounted to 25,007, of which 84.5% were installed in Malta and 15.5% in Gozo.

When compared to 2017, new installations increased by 9.5%.