The Nationalist Party on Thursday accused the government of serious failings in the management of renewable energy projects in Gozo schools, claiming that the photovoltaic systems installed over the past decade only generated a total of 27% of the electricity they were expected to produce.

Speaking during a press conference, PN candidates Mark Anthony Sammut, Rebekah Borg and Eve Borg Bonello said that the findings highlighted what they described as the Labour government's lack of competence in the energy sector

Sammut presented figures based on information to a response for a parliamentary question regarding solar panel installations in Gozitan schools, including the size of each system and the electricity generated annually since installation.

The PN said it analysed the data by calculating the amount of energy each system should have produced according to its size in kilowatt peak (kWp), before comparing it with the actual generation figures.

Sammut said that the results revealed substantial losses in clean energy production across numerous schools.

Among the schools mentioned were Gharb Primary School and Xagħra Primary and MCAST School, where the PN said that 92% of potential clean energy generation had been lost.

Nadur allegedly lost 82%, while Agius de Soldanis was said to have lost 80% of its expected output.

Other schools cited included Sir M.A. Refalo Sixth Form with 73% losses, San Lawrenz with 72%, Għajnsielem and Ninu Cremona with 67%, Victoria Primary with 63%, and both Sannat and Qala Primary with 60%.

"Gozo schools lost 73% of clean energy over more than ten years, and only received 27% of what they should have generated," Sammut said.

He said the PN had initially struggled to believe the figures but later discovered that some systems had allegedly never been connected to the electricity grid.

"They installed the panels, took the photos, and never connected them to the grid," Sammut alleged.

He also said that some installations suffered damage which remained unrepaired for years despite faults being reported.

"This is the level of incompetence and lack of knowledge on energy," he said, adding that the schools were estimated to have lost around 6.6 million units of electricity generation.

Sammut argued that the issue represented "just the tip of the iceberg" and pledged that a future Nationalist government would ensure renewable energy investments were fully operational and beneficial to the public.

Rebekah Borg used the press conference to defend the PN's proposal to reduce electricity bills by an average of 30%, that  the plan was both "costed and responsible."

She reiterated measures already announced by the party, including the removal of meter rental charges and changes to tariff bands, which she said would save consumers €17 million.

"Certain people are saying the numbers do not add up, but these numbers do add up and we have explained how," Borg said, arguing that greater investment in renewable energy would help reduce costs and carbon emissions.

Meanwhile, Eve Borg Bonello said that the campaign had shown the PN was ready both for the election and for government, while accusing Labour of trying to cast doubt on the PN's proposals.

"The PN is not only offering a vision to reduce bills, but also a way to generate renewable energy sources," she said.

Borg Bonello also warned that Malta risked missing its environmental obligations by 2030, arguing that pollution levels were set to rise beyond those recorded in 2005 despite EU targets requiring reductions in emissions.