Energy efficiency & renewables : policies, applications & research

Abstract

Policy making, research and applications on energy efficiency and renewable energy were the main topics of a seminar that was held last week and organised by the Institute for Energy Technology of the University of Malta. Various EU Energy Directives focus on energy efficiency as the immediate measure required to curb increasing use of fossil fuels. More recently, the EU has proposed renewable energy targets to be reached by each member state by the year 2020. The target for Malta aims towards providing 10 % if its primary energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020. So far, Malta remains fully dependent on imported fossil fuel supplies, and hence it would be the first to suffer the consequences of sudden changes in the provision or cost of this essential commodity.