Feed-in Tariffs Schemes

Feed-in Tariffs Schemes

Frequently Asked Questions

A feed-in tariff is a tariff which is paid to a producer of electricity for the amount of electricity generated and exported to the electricity grid. 

The feed-in tariffs for electricity produced by solar photovoltaic systems (PV systems) were introduced for the first time on the 10^th September 2010. Prior to this date, PV systems were being connected and electricity sent to the grid was compensated through a net metering arrangement. This latter arrangement is no longer an option for any PV system approved after the 10^th September 2010. On the 10^th September 2010, the Government announced a feed‐in tariff scheme for electricity produced through photovoltaic systems. Since their first introduction in September 2010 various feed-in tariff schemes were introduced through amendments to the Feed-in tariff Regulations.

You can find more information on the history of feed-in tariffs since September 2010 up to the currently available feed-in tariff schemes by following this link:  FIT Schemes Table update 

For information regarding currently available feed-in tariff schemes kindly refer to the table “FIT Scheme Table” in FAQ1, and to the “PV Capping Status” page: https://www.rews.org.mt/#/en/a/82-pv-capping-status which is updated regularly.

If the grant exceeds 50%, the applicable feed-in tariff is equivalent to the feed-in tariff for a PV system installed on a residential premises with a reduction of 0.2c for every 1% grant received over above the 50%. If this calculation results in a feed-in tariff rate that is lower than the prevailing proxy of the market price of electricity, then the feed-in tariff would be equivalent to proxy of the market price of electricity. For the feed-in tariff applicable in your case where the PV is benefitting from a household grant of up to 50% refer to the table in FAQ 1.

Yes, a maximum total capacity is made available for the allocation of a feed-in tariff under the Feed-in tariff (S.L.545.27) except for the feed-in tariff allocated to PVs benefitting from a grant. For more details refer to the table in FAQ 1. To note also that as from the year 2021, feed-in tariff schemes introduced under S.L.545.27 cater only for PVs with capacity of less than 40kWp. Any renewable energy technology including PVs with a capacity of 40kW or more may be awarded support through a competitive bidding process (ITB). Link here: https://www.rews.org.mt/tenders/

While there is a feed-in tariff available for allocation, you can submit a request to the Regulator to benefit from a feed-in tariff for a PV less than 40kWp through an online application. You can find more information by visiting the Regulator’s website under the heading https://www.rews.org.mt/services/authorisation-and-notification-pvs-feed-in-tariff-40-kwp/

No, the feed-in tariff is paid for electricity exported subject to a limit as established by the feed-in tariff scheme as follows:

(i) In the case of a PV system which installation was approved a feed-in tariff by the Malta Resources Authority before 31st December 2012 the following caps on the electricity exported and reimbursed by the applicable feed-in tariff apply:

1. In the case of PV installed on residential or domestic premises, the amount of electricity exported annually to the electricity grid and reimbursed by the applicable feed-in tariff is capped to the amount equivalent to kWp of the installation multiplied by 1600 but not exceeding 4800kWh/annum; and
2. In the case of PV installed on premises for commercial use, the amount of electricity exported annually to the electricity grid and reimbursed by the applicable feed-in tariff is capped to the amount equivalent to the kWp installed and multiplied by 1600 but not exceeding 160,000kWh /annum.

ii) In the case of a PV system which installation was approved by the Malta Resources Authority or the Regulator for Energy and Water Services after 1st January 2013, the amount of electricity exported annually to the electricity grid and reimbursed by the applicable feed-in tariff is capped to the amount equivalent to the kWp of the installation multiplied by 1600.

Any electricity units exported above the limit allowed will be reimbursed Enemalta plc’s proxy of the market price of electricity and as applicable at the particular year in which such units were exported. The proxy for the market price of electricity of electricity is generally announced on an annual basis.

Yes, you may opt to sell all the electricity generated by your PV system to Enemalta plc, and you will be paid the feed-in tariff according to the terms and conditions of the feed-in tariff scheme approved for such purposes. On the other hand, any units which you consume you will pay at the applicable electricity tariffs for the supply of electricity by Enemalta plc.

This option is better known as: “Sell all the electricity produced by the PV system” or “Full Export”

Yes, you may opt to consume the electricity generated by your PV at the time it is produced. Any units that are not consumed instantaneously will be exported to the grid and will be paid at the feed in tariff and according to the terms and conditions of the feed-in tariff scheme approved for such purposes.

On the other hand, you pay for every unit which is imported from Enemalta plc for your consumption according to the applicable electricity tariffs for the supply of electricity by Enemalta plc. This option is better known as “Sell only the electricity which is produced and not consumed i.e. export the electricity produced in excess of consumption” or “Partial Export”.

Note: This option is not applicable for third party PV installations i.e. PV installations installed on a site where the PV owner is not a consumer. In such cases the owner of the PV installation has no other option but to sell all electricity generated by the installation and exported to the electricity grid to Enemalta plc.

When submitting an application to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services for a new PV system, the applicant is required to indicate his preferred option (Sell All or Generate Primarily for own consumption) regarding the sale of electricity generated by the PV system. Later on, it is possible to change the option selected initially, where applicable, by submitting an ARMS Ltd Form R directly to ARMS Ltd both during the years in which the feed-in tariff is applicable and/or after the expiry of this period. No documentation is required from the REWS to change the option.

However, it is not possible to change the option regarding the sale of electricity generated by the PV system in the following cases:

a) a third-party installation where the only option is Sell All (i.e. the owner of the PV is not the registered consumer with ARMS Ltd. at the premises where such installation is installed OR 

b) where Enemalta plc has specifically agreed with the PV owner during the evaluation of the proposal for the issue of the “No Objection” letter on which option is applicable

c) where on site there is more than one PV system installed and each connected with a different feed-in tariff and its own dedicated meter, it will be only possible to change the option of a PV system installed and associated with an account intended for the consumption electricity from the grid.

d) where the site administrator, example in the case of a PV installed on an INDIS site, and when the entity administering public industrial parks (INDIS), has specifically made a condition that the generation shall be for own consumption first.

Yes, another meter has to be installed. Normally the connection of a PV system to the grid requires a “PV meter” and an import/export meter both provided by Enemalta plc.

The “PV meter” measures all the electricity produced by the PV system and if you opt to sell all the electricity produced by your PV the payment will be based on the readings of the PV meter.

An import/export meter is an electricity meter that can measure:

• the surplus electricity generated by your PV that is not consumed in your premises and is exported to the grid, i.e. the “EXPORT”; on your bill and normally displayed as “Export info” by the smart meter.

the amount of electricity that is imported from the grid, which is supplied by Enemalta plc i.e. the “IMPORT” on your bill and normally displayed as “Consumption” by the smart meter.

For a PV system with a capacity less than 100kWp, Enemalta plc may deduct the amount due to you for the electricity generated by your PV installation and exported to the grid from the amount due to Enemalta plc for the supply of electricity.
In the case where the amount due to you from the electricity exported by the PV system exceeds the invoiced amount for the consumption of electricity for a particular billing period, such amount will be carried forward in the form of a credit note. When two consecutive scheduled bills based on actual meter readings are shown to be in credit Enemalta plc is obliged to pay you the credit within sixty days of the date of the second scheduled bill. Please refer to ARMS Ltd to make the necessary arrangements to enable the credit of such amounts directly to your bank account. 

If your PV system has a capacity of 100kWp and no set off arrangement as explained in FAQ 13 is in place, Enemalta plc is obliged pay you the credit due after deducting any amounts owed by you to Enemalta plc, within sixty days from a scheduled meter reading. 

The feed‐in tariff payable to households is income‐tax and VAT exempt. Revenue and expenses relating to PV systems installed on premises used for commercial purposes shall be considered as part of normal business of the company/entity concerned.

For both “Sell all the electricity produced by the PV system” and “Sell only the electricity which is produced and not consumed”, the metering configuration is normally as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Note that a kWh is a unit of electricity as measured by the meter.

• PV meter G measures all the units produced by the system; in this example G =1837kWh
• The consumption meter at point I/E measures the flow of electricity into the building (denoted by I for Import) and
• the flow of electricity out from the building to the network (denoted by E for export).

The readings used to calculate what is due to the consumer for the electricity sold to Enemalta plc and the amount due by the consumer for the electricity purchased from Enemalta plc depends on the feed-in tariff option described earlier and chosen by the consumer.

Full export: Sell all the electricity produced by the PV systems Enemalta plc pays for the electricity generated by the PV panel (as measured at point G) on condition that this does not exceed the cap for the payment of the feed-in tariff, while the consumer has to pay for all the electricity consumption. The consumption is effectively what would be measured at point C if a meter is installed there. However, in order to avoid having to connect three meters for PV systems, the consumption at point C is calculated:
C = I plus G minus E.

In the example of Figure 1: Electricity generated and paid to consumer at feed-in Tariff = 1837kWh.The building has actually consumed 6748kWh + 1837kWh – 552kWh = 8033kWh and consumer pays this consumption to ARMS Ltd at the applicable consumption tariff rates. This is a standard electrical relationship.

Partial Export: Sell only the electricity which is produced and not consumed i.e. the electricity produced in excess of consumption. Enemalta plc pays the consumer for the electricity exported from the PV (as measured at point E) on condition that this does not exceed the cap for the payment of the feed-in tariff and the consumer pays Enemalta plc for the electricity imported from the grid (as measured at point I).
In the example of Figure 1: Electricity generated and paid to consumer at feed-in Tariff = 552kWh. The building has actually consumed 6748kWh + 1837kWh – 552kWh = 8033kWh but consumer pays only 6748kWh consumption to ARMS Ltd at the applicable consumption tariff rates.

No, if your PV is approved in a feed in tariff scheme, the feed-in tariff and the guarantee period for the payment of that feed-in tariff remain fixed and as established by the feed-in tariff Regulations for the particular scheme.

Note: A new FIT scheme may be launched at any point but such scheme would then only be applicable for those installations approved in that particular feed-in tariff scheme.

The net‐metering was only available to owners of PV’s already connected to the grid before September 2010 is no longer offered as an option. Only those already benefiting from this arrangement can continue with the agreement they have regarding net‐metering.

With effect from August 2015, it is not possible to switch from net metering to a feed-in tariff.

No.

No, you may only remain on the net metering arrangement for the size of PV at the time of connection to the grid (that is when Enemalta installed the PV meter and the import/export meters).

Yes, however the new PV system has to be connected to the grid through its own separate meter and the only arrangement possible in this case is the “Full export: Sell all the electricity produced by the PV systems”. The application procedure for a feed-in tariff indicated in reply to Question 5 above applies in the event you opt to install the new PV system.

Yes, however the new PV system has to be connected to the grid through its own separate meter however the only arrangement possible in this case is the “Full export: Sell all the electricity produced by the PV system. The application procedure for a feed-in tariff indicated in reply to Question 5 above applies also in this case.

You can add capacity on the same PV meter however you will only be paid the original feed-in tariff on the original kWp installed and units exported above this limit will be paid at the proxy for the market price of electricity. You would still need the prior approval of the Regulator for Energy and Water Services and Enemalta plc before adding any PV capacity.

The period for guaranteed payment of the feed-in tariff will start once the PV system is connected to the grid through the necessary metering provided by Enemalta plc.

Any electricity exported to the grid will be reimbursed by Enemalta plc at the proxy for the market price of electricity previously known as the marginal cost, which is established in the Fourth Schedule to the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) Regulations or in the Fourth Schedule to the Electricity Regulations (S.L.545.34 as from the year 2023 and which may change from time to time. However, with the entry into force of legal notice 61 of 2021 on the 25^th February 2021 in the case of a PV installed on a residential or domestic premises with a feed-in tariff for 8 years or 6 years, the applicable rate after the lapse of the 8 years or 6 years is 10.5c/kWh. The aforementioned 10.5c/kWh is payable for 12 years where the original feed-in tariff was for 8 years or 14 years where the original feed-in tariff was for 6 years.

Refer to FAQs 6 and 10

Yes, you may apply to install a PV system according to the terms and conditions of Regulation 4A of the feed-in tariff regulations and be paid the proxy for the market price of electricity previously known as the marginal cost for any electricity exported to the grid. Normally under this arrangement the PV system is installed mainly for own consumption and sell the surplus.

You can find more information by visiting this webpage.

• In case of a PV system installed in a residential or domestic premises sold as part of the said premises, subject to the owners following the transfer of ownership procedure, the new owner would be eligible to benefit from the feed-in tariff under Regulation 4C as long as the premises continue to fall under the category of a residential or domestic premises in terms of the Electricity Connection and Supply Regulations (S.L.545.41)
• In case of a PV system previously installed on a residential or domestic premises and subsequently sold to be installed in another premises as a second hand installation the new owner would be eligible to benefit from the feed-in tariff under Regulation 4C as long as change of ownership is duly registered as per Regulator’s procedures and the new premises fall under the category of a residential or domestic premises in terms of the Electricity Connection and Supply Regulations (S.L.545.41)
• In case of a PV system installed in a residential or domestic premises reported to REWS as decommissioned and subsequently sold, the new owner would not be eligible to benefit from the feed-in tariff under Regulation 4C 
• In case of a PV with the original FIT expired and decommissioned by the owner and subsequently the same owner requests to reconnect it to the grid, such owner would be eligible to benefit from the feed-in tariff under Regulation 4C provided that the REWS had been informed of the decommissioning in accordance to established procedures and the REWS is able to trace the application. In this case the owner may apply with REWS in the form required and the right for the feed-in tariff would be reactivated. The premises must fall under the category of a residential or domestic premises in terms of the Electricity Connection and Supply Regulations.

Owners of a PV system installed on residential premises including those that benefit from a feed-in tariff for 20 years may benefit from “Option C Hybrid inverter and battery storage” subject to the conditions of the scheme and where the PV has been connected to the grid for at least 6 years to be reckoned from the date of connection of the meter.

The Electricity Connection and Supply Regulations (S.L.545.41), in particular regulation 22(6)(d) which should be read in conjunction with regulation 22A(c) of the Electrical Installations Regulations (S.L. 545.24) as amended by L.N.283 of 2024, provides for this situation. In general, a PV on the roof of the apartment block may be connected to the service/meter of a maisonette however the connection shall be in compliance with the technical requirements of the afore-regulations and with involvement of a competent electrical warranted engineer. 

The same principle applies for any premises (example garages/shop/office or a maisonette underlying another maisonette) at ground floor level underlying other premises when the ground floor premises are not physically internally connected to the roof.

If you want to benefit the PV from a feed-in tariff without a grant, the PV is installed by the developer without requesting a feed-in tariff then following the signature of the final contract for transfer of ownership of apartment/PV the new owner applies for a feed in tariff at the applicable rates and conditions of such scheme and gets the feed-in tariff confirmation. The applicant in the Part 2 would need to provide a copy of the purchase agreement of the developer for the purchase of the PV system, indicating the cost of the PV system, panels, inverter and installation costs.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided is for general guidance to the Feed‐in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) Regulations, (S.L. 545.27). However, the Regulator for Energy and Water Services accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the information provided which is of a general nature only. This information is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity, not necessarily comprehensive, complete, accurate or up to date and is not professional or legal advice (if you need specific advice, you should always consult a suitably qualified professional).

Only the Feed‐in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) Regulations, (S.L.545.27) including any amendments published in the Government Gazette are deemed authentic.

The following are the list of the consolidated legal notices:

• LN 422 of 2010
• SL 423.46 as per LN 422 of 2010 as amended by LN 70 of 2011 (4th March 2011)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 422 of 2010 as amended by LN 70 of 2011 and 63 of 2012 (9th February 2012)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 422 of 2010 as amended by LN 70 of 2011, and 63 and 236 of 2012 (20th July 2012)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 422 of 2010 as amended by LN 70 of 2011, 63, 236 and 357 of 2012, and 71 of 2013 (22nd February 2013)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 422 of 2010, as amended by LN 70 of 2011, 63, 236 and 357 of 2012, and 71 and 139 of 2013 (7th May 2013)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 253 of 2013 (3rd September 2013)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 253 of 2013 as amended by LN 271 of 2013 (17th September 2013)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 253 of 2013 as amended by LN 271 of 2013, and 7 of 2014 (14th January 2014)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 253 of 2013 as amended by LN 271 of 2013, and 7 and 155 of 2014 (13th May 2014)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 253 of 2013 as amended by LN 271 of 2013, and 7, 155 and 416 of 2014 (28th November 2014)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 253 of 2013 as amended by LN 271 of 2013, and 7, 155 and 416 of 2014; and Act XXXIV of 2014 (29th August 2014)
• SL 423.46 as per LN 253 of 2013 as amended by LN 271 of 2013 and 7, 155 and 416 of 2014; Act XXXIV of 2014; and LN 171 of 2015

SL 545.27 as per LN 253 of 2013, as amended by LN 271 of 2013 and 7, 155 and 416 of 2014; Act XXXIV of 2014; LN 171 and 264 of 2015; and Act XXV of 2015

Microwind Turbine Feed-In Tariff Explained

Microwind turbines (wind turbines with a capacity of less than 20kW) installed and connected to the grid in the year 2011 and from 2011 onwards are being offered the same options being offered for PV systems that is:

• Option 1: Full export – Sell all the electricity produced by the wind turbine OR
• Option 2: Partial Export – Consume the electricity produced by the wind turbine first and export the amount of electricity produced in excess of consumption.

The tariff paid for electricity produced by the wind turbine and exported to the grid is the proxy of the market price for electricity previously known as marginal cost is established in the Fourth Schedule to the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) Regulations or in the Fourth Schedule to the Electricity Regulations (S.L.545.34) as from the year 2023. The metering configuration used to connect micro wind turbines to the grid is identical to that of PV systems.