The government has received 16 offers for the development of Malta's first large-scale utility battery energy storage systems, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli told The Malta Independent.

Interconnect Malta had launched the procurement process for the design and construction of two utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

"These BESS will support a greater integration of renewable energy sources into the Maltese electricity grid. They will provide services to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources, enabling the storage of electricity generated during peak photovoltaic production hours and shifting it to periods of lower renewable energy sources output, when consumer demand is higher," Interconnect Malta had said last November.

Dalli, during an interview with this newsroom, said that 16 offers have been made.

She said that the government is aiming to increase the percentage of renewable energy generated, such as through the offshore wind farm project, and that battery energy storage system projects tie in with this.

"Currently we are using renewable energy as it is generated," she said, mentioning solar technology. "We also want to be able to use that energy at night. We issued a call for offers for around 40 megawatts of battery energy storage systems, which are mass storage, and there was a lot of interest. 16 offers were made. This shows the interest there is in this kind of innovative technology. This battery energy storage system project was categorised by the EU as a project of general economic interest, meaning that the EU recognises that this is an important project for our country," Dalli said.

Two locations had been identified for this battery energy storage project, one of which is in the Delimara power station, and another is to be located underground in the old Marsa power station. "Obviously all health and safety measures would have taken place and were passed and approved," she said.

Regarding the offshore renewable energy project, the government recently issued a public call to businesses interested in building the country's first offshore windfarm.

Describing this project as a one which requires long-term planning, Dalli said it is not necessarily one that would be completed while she is the minister responsible for the sector, "but the foundations need to be completed so that the project could be done for the good of the country."

The project is for floating offshore renewables, she said. "It is one of the first projects of this kind."

Describing what the government has done thus far, she said it had looked into which areas at sea make sense for this kind of project, and through a premarket consultation checked what kind of interest there is for different projects in Malta's exclusive economic zone. "We drafted the policy for offshore renewables, and now we reached the pre-qualifications questionnaire (PQQ) stage, where it was issued. In this phase, investors who are interested can ask a number of questions, and it seems there was interest in this regard, as a number of questions to know more about the project were asked. This PQQ was meant to close in March, but when we saw all the interest we decided to extend the PQQ until the end of June, beginning of July. So we are looking at what interest there would be from investors who put forward their offers to continue with this process."

Asked what year the first offshore windfarm project is expected to be complete, she reiterated that it is a long-term project. "This is a project that we foresee materialising after 2030."

After the PQQ closes, through the procurement procedures the authorities will look at the interest generated and will look at the technical and financial capabilities of investors who come forward, she said.

Dalli was asked about the recent controversy in Qajjenza

A Planning Control application was approved for a site used by Enemalta in Qajjenza which would mean that part of the site would be used for residential purposes, part for commercial purposes, and the rest as public space. Asked why the whole site won't be turned into public open space, Dalli said: "That land does not all belong to Enemalta, part of it belongs to the private sector."

"The land owned by Enemalta was, is and will remain owned by Enemalta," she stressed. "Enemalta will not pass on its land to the private sector. Obviously that land has value for the corporation."

"80% of its land will be used as public open space and parking for residents, as one of the issues residents in Qajjenza have is a lack of parking, and 20% of the land will be built for the needs of Enemalta."

"Enemalta is also to make land next to this Qajjenza plant accessible to people," she said. "There, an open space would be created on other land."

"Enemalta looked at the needs of the community. I wish that the private sector would also see what the needs of the community in Qajjenza are. I know that one of the things the people living in the area of Qajjenza and Birzebbugia need is a home for the elderly."

She also referred to the Siċċa project which is nearby, among other projects in the area.

First part of the interview was carried in The Malta Independent on Sunday yesterday