Energetic Sustainability Using Renewable Energies in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

The paper is focused on the analysis of the electrical energy sector in the Maltese islands, focusing on the employment of Renewable Energies in order to increase its energy independence. The main renewable source here proposed is wave energy: thanks to its strategic position, Malta will be able to generate electrical energy through the use of an innovative type of Wave Energy Converter (WEC) based on the prototype of linear generator designed and developed by the University of Palermo. This new technology will be able to cut down the electrical energy production from traditional power plants and, consequently, the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Wave energy source and off-shore photovoltaic (PV) technology are proposed here. Particularly, the installation of 18 wave farms, for a total installed capacity of 130 MW, will generate about 5.7% of Malta's energy requests in 2025, while the installation of 60 MW of off-shore PV will generate about 4.4%.