In 2010, the European Union average for renewable energy generation was estimated to have contributed 12.4% of the gross final energy consumption, compared with 11.7% in 2009 and 10.5% in 2008.

Malta has the lowest rate of renewable energy generation at 0.4%, up slightly from 0.2%, as a constant, since 2006. The highest share of renewable energy in total consumption in 2010 was found in Sweden (47.9%), Latvia (32.6%), Finland (32.2%), Austria (30.1%) and Portugal (24.6%).

At the lower end of the scale, Malta (0.4%), is joined by Luxembourg (2.8%), the United Kingdom (3.2%) and the Netherlands (3.8%).

Between 2006 and 2010, all Member States increased their share of renewable energy in total consumption. The largest increases were recorded in Estonia (from 16.1% in 2006 to 24.3% in 2010), Romania (from 17.1% to 23.4%), Denmark (from 16.5% to 22.2%), Sweden (from 42.7% to 47.9%) and Spain (from 9.0% to 13.8%).

Malta has a target of producing 10% of its energy consumption by 2020. This target is looking extremely ambitious, given that there is hardly any infrastructure whatsoever. At present, most energy generation from renewable sources is in private homes, in the form of solar water heaters and photo-voltaic energy generation cells.

In the past, there were plans to extract energy from the engineered landfills, but nothing has been heard for years. The government is forging ahead with its plan to create energy through an offshore wind farm, but even that seems to have ground to a halt.

The crux of the matter is that oil is going to continue to increase in price. In the past, experts pointed out that the capital expenditure and maintenance of renewable energy sources was more expensive that generating power through the burning of fossil fuels.

This may have been the case, but there must have been a rapid shift, given that crude and refined oil prices are so high. It will get to the point where countries that are totally dependent on fossil fuels (as is the case with Malta as it stands) will literally not be able to afford to purchase oil or gas.

Apart from the financial aspect, Malta needs to change its outlook from an environmental point of view. Granted, a cable to Italy will give Malta security from an energy point of view, but it will not do anything in terms of morality. The consumption will still be there, it will just not be registered in Malta. The plan is to increase our renewable energy generation to 10 % of total consumption within eight years, but that looks like a tall order indeed.