Public Consultation On Amendments to GN 52 of 2010.
The 2020 Budget speech made reference to the introduction of a new support scheme to encourage the use of Battery Storage. The use of battery storage in combination with solar photovoltaic installations is expected to become more common as the battery technology evolves and for this reason it is being proposed that for future solar photovoltaic grant schemes, the inverter system should be of the hybrid type. The introduction of the aforementioned technologies require some changes to the Government Notice GN 52 of 2010 and the Electrical Installations Regulations.
Here are links to the proposed amendments to Government Notice 52 of 2010 as amended by GN 340 of 2015 and as further amended by GN 1070 of 2017 to make way for the implementation of the new battery storage scheme and the introduction of the hybrid inverter and other minor amendments and the amendments to the Electricity Installation Regulations to cater for backup operation mode.
The main changes are:
- The introduction of a new equipment being Battery Storage. Such storage equipment is to be certified in accordance with the following standards, as applicable:
·Lead Acid Batteries shall be certified toEN 61056-1-2, BS EN 60896-11, 21 and 22 as applicable or an equivalent thereof when so considered by the Standards and Metrology Institute within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority;
·The lithium-ion shall be certified to IEC 62619 as applicable or an equivalent thereof when so considered by the Standards and Metrology Institute within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority;
·Flow batteries shall be certified to BS EN 62932-1-2 as applicable, or an equivalent thereof when so considered by the Standards and Metrology Institute within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority;
- New inverters that may be registered to participate in grant schemes are to be of the Hybrid type compliant with Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 of 14 April 2016 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of generators and certified in accordance with EN 50549.
- Amendments to the Electricity Installation Regulations to cater for backup operation mode.
One may comment on the amendments via e-mail enquiry@rews.org.mt by not later than 30th April 2020.
