Authorisation and Notification PV's Feed In Tariff< 40 kWp

Applications to:

1. Request a Feed-in Tariff for a Photovoltaic Installation with capacity from 1kWp up to
less than 40kW;

• Part 1 to be submitted through the One-Stop-Shop
• Part 2 PV Operating Aid for applications not submitted through the One-Stop-Shop, and having been installed.

2. Request a Feed-in Tariff for a Photovoltaic Installation

3. Request a Change with Respect to an Existing Photovoltaic Installation

The Regulator for Energy and Water Services administers the allocation and approval of feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaic generation capacities in accordance with the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) Regulations (S.L. 545.27).

Any generating station must comply with the Electricity Regulations S.L. 545.34
These Regulations require that:

1. Where the rating of the generating station will not cause the total capacity installed on the electricity service to exceed 16 Amps (3.68kW AC) or 20 Amps (4.6kW) when the generator has volt-var capability and in operation on a single-phase service or 16Amp per phase (11.04kW AC) or 20 Amps (13.8kW)  when the generator has volt-var capability and in operation on a three-phase service,  only require to be  Notified to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services.
2. Where the rating of generating station will cause the total capacity installed on the electricity service to exceed 16 Amps (3.68kW AC) or 20 Amps (4.6kW) when the generator has volt-var capability and in operation  on a single-phase service or 16Amp per phase (11.04kW AC) or 20 Amps (13.8kW)  when the generator has volt-var capability and in operation on a three-phase service,  an Authorisation prior to its construction is required and a licence to generate electricity once such generating station is constructed.

Both the authorisation and the licence are issued by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services

Part One (1)

Any person wishing to install a solar photovoltaic installation and benefit from a feed-in tariff (FIT) needs to apply to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services before installing the PV installation. The application form submitted through the One-Stop-Shop and including the selected FIT scheme, combines the request for the allocation of feed-in tariff and the application for an authorisation/notification process in terms of the Electricity Regulations S.L. 545.34.

In the case of eligible applications:

1. for systems rated up to 16 Amps per phase or 20 Amps per phase in the case where the inverter(s) is/are equipped with Volt-Var (see Technical Note below), eligibility and the allocation of a FIT under the FIT scheme is confirmed through the issue the “FIT confirmation letter” at the conclusion of the Part 1 PV approval
2. for larger systems, the applicant is, first, guided through the One-Stop-Shop to request a Preliminary Grid Connection Study. Based on the outcome of the preliminary grid connection study, the applicant may proceed with the submission of the Part 1 PV application through the One-Stop-Shop. Eligibility to the FIT scheme and the allocation of the FIT is confirmed by the issue of an “Authorisation to Construct” of the PV installation.
   
   The “Authorisation to Construct” is issued by the Regulator once the applicant complies with all requirements of the grid study, and once the DSO (Enemalta plc) issues a “No Objection Letter” for the connection to the grid.

Part Two (2)

Any person allocated a feed-in tariff through the Part 1 application process is required to submit the Part 2 application to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services once the PV system is installed. This is done either through the Part 2 step of the One-Stop-Shop platform (where the Part 1 was submitted through the One-Stop-Shop) or using the Part 2 Operating Aid (where the Part 1 application was not submitted through the One-Stop-Shop). This submission is necessary to:

1. obtain a confirmation of the feed-in tariff allocated; and
2. obtain a ‘Regulatory Clearance’; and
3. obtain a licence to generate electricity for those installations issued with an “Authorisation to Construct”.

Further information may also be found in a list of FAQ’s at: Multi generators configurations and FAQs.

Application to request a feed-in tariff and notify a solar photovoltaic installation or request an authorisation for a solar photovoltaic installation with a capacity ranging from 1kWp up to less than 40kWp as applicable:

• https://onestopshop.rews.org.mt/login – One Stop Shop – Step by Step Guide
• Part 2 PV Operating Aid REWS/165/v11-02-02/21 (Applicable to Part 1 applications that were not submitted through the One-StopShop)

Part Three (3)

Following the approval of the Part 2, applications submitted through the One-Stop-Shop, can proceed to Part 3.

In this step/stage, the applicant needs to submit an application to Enemalta plc to connect the PV to the grid and to be provided with the necessary metering for the billing and payment of the FIT by ARMS Ltd.
In case of applications not submitted through the One-Stop-Shop, the applicant needs to submit an application to Enemalta to connect the PV installation to the grid and to be provided with the necessary metering for the billing and payment of the FIT by ARMS Ltd. This is done by submitting the ARMS Ltd PV Form together with the ‘Regulatory Clearance’ and licence (if applicable) issued by the REWS.

Technical Note
Guidance Notes on the Electricity Connection and Supply Regulations

The Electricity Connection and Supply Regulations (S.L.545.41)(ECSR) entered into force on the 29^th October 2024 through Legal Notice 282 of 2024. These regulations replace the Electricity Supply Regulations (S.L. 545.01). These regulations provide the terms and conditions for the connection of
loads, generators from renewable energy (RES), combined heat and power and storage to the electricity distribution grid up to the electricity service meter, metering, billing and electricity tariffs.

In terms of the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) Regulations S.L. 545.27 , the allocation of a feed-in tariff by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services through the Part One (1) Operating Aid process is valid for twelve (12) months as follows:

1. for solar photovoltaic installations requiring only a Notification to the REWS, the allocation is valid for twelve (12) months from the date of “FIT Confirmation” letter / Part 1 approval,
2. for capacities exceeding requiring an Authorisation, the allocation is valid for twelve (12) months from the date when the REWS would have approved the Part 1 application and the application changes status to “Pending Enemalta grid Study”.

Notes:

1. A one-time extension of the feed-in tariff allocation may be requested in the event that the solar photovoltaic installation is not completed and an application to Enemalta through the Part 3 for connection to the grid is not submitted within such a stipulated time frame (twelve months).
2. Such a request for an extension has to be submitted to the Regulator; and in such case, the solar photovoltaic installation would be allocated the feed-in tariff available on the date of submission of the request for extension.
3. The extension would start from the day following the date of expiry of the first twelve (12) month period irrespective of the date of request for an extension.
4. In case the request for extension is accepted, the validity of the notification/authorisation, as applicable, will also be automatically extended.
5.  The extension period is twenty-four (24) months for applications originally approved by a “FIT Confirmation” letter or an “Authorisation” dated before the year 2023. The extension period is twelve (12) months for those applications which have originally been approved by a “FIT Confirmation” letter or an “Authorisation” dated from the 1st January 2023 and onwards.

Any person wishing to request an extension of a feed-in tariff is required to apply to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services using the form PV FIT Extension.

For applications not through the One-Stop-Shop or by the Clock icon  for applications submitted through the One-Stop-Shop.

Application Form:

• PV FIT Extension

A person who requires to make changes with respect to any existing PV system is required to submit an application in writing to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services. The Regulator for Energy and Water Services accepts the following requests for a change with respect to an existing PV installation:

1. a change of the ownership (transfer of licence) of the solar photovoltaic installation,
2. a change of the use of the premises,
3. a change of the PV meter address or connection point (with or without the relocation of the solar photovoltaic installation),
4. shifting of a PV from one meter to another meter to connect two existing PV installations together on the same meter (Shifting and Add-on).

The applicant is required to submit the following application to the Regulator for Energy and Water Services to request any of the above changes:

• Request for a change in an existing RES/CHP Generation Station (REWS/133/v15-03-05/24)

In addition to the above the following application forms should be submitted if the requested change consists in:

1. Transfer of Electricity generation licence if there is a  change of the ownership (transfer of licence) of the solar photovoltaic installation,  
2. PV Notification Application form. v20 if there is a change of the PV meter address or connection point (with or without the relocation of the solar photovoltaic installation), for a solar photovoltaic installation which only required a Notification.  
3. PV Authorisation Application. v28, if there is a change of the PV meter address or connection point (with or without the relocation of the solar photovoltaic installation), for installations which required an Authorisation, or in case that the PV is relocated where there is already existing capacity, when the total will require an Authorisation.

Feed-in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) Regulations S.L. 545.27
Electricity Regulations S.L. 545.34

1. Details/number of the Identity card or passport or company registration number and/or the VAT number of the applicant as applicable.
2. Details of the Identity card or passport or company registration number and/or the VAT number of the previous owner/previous licensee as applicable in case of a transfer.
3. Details of the Identity card or passport number or company registration number and/or the VAT number of the new owner/new licensee as applicable in case of a transfer.
4. Handwritten signature of the applicant (or all legal representatives in the case of a Company/Partnership) required on the application form.
5. Handwritten signature of the previous owner/previous licensee (or all legal representatives in the case of a Company/Partnership) on the application form in case of a transfer.
6. Handwritten signature of the new owner/new licensee (or all legal representatives in the case of a Company/Partnership) on the application form in case of a transfer.
7. In case of One-Stop-Shop, though the personal E_ID

Part One (1) PV Operating Aid

1. Copy/ Copies of the identity card/s or passport/s of the applicant or the Legal Representative/s in the case of a company / Legal Organisation, only when the signatory nominates another person to approve with E-ID on his/her behalf.
2. In case of a company or an organisation, a copy of an official Memorandum of Articles of Association for a company, or a copy of a Statute for an organisation indicating the President and the Secretary (e.g. a Band Club) or a copy of a VAT certificate if the applicant is a sole trader.
3. In the event that the installation is to be installed on a third-party property, a copy of the identity card or passport of the site owner, or occupier, or the Legal Representative in the case of a company / Legal Organisation of the site owner or occupier. In this latter case, a Memorandum of Articles of Association of the company or a copy of the Statute for the organisation indicating the President and the Secretary.
4. Photos of the site proposed for the installation
5. In the case of solar photovoltaic installations that are not roof mounted on an existing building, a Planning Authority permit, or a letter from the Planning Authority that a permit is not required.
6. A copy of a recent electricity bill, not older than 1 year, of the site proposed.
7. Technical details of the PV generator and a signed declaration by a warranted electrical engineer.
8. In the case of a company or Legal organisation, the details of the Legal Representative/s should be submitted.
9. A signed declaration from the owner and/or occupier of the site where the PV installation is being proposed, confirming that there is no legal impediment for the installation; and, if the applicant is not the owner/occupier, granting permission to the applicant to install the PV system on the site proposed. (included in item 4.2 of Part 1 Operating Aid).
10. Estimated project costs (inclusive of VAT)
11. Declaration regarding De Minimis State Aid received by the applicant in the current fiscal year (the year in which the declaration is being submitted) until the date of the declaration in the application to benefit from a feed-in tariff and the de minimis aid received in the two previous fiscal years.

Part Two (2) PV Operating Aid

1. Photos of the solar photovoltaic installation as installed.
2. A dated purchase agreement or equivalent, signed by both PV supplier and applicant.
3. A photo of the inverter(s) tally plate dated and signed in original by the warranted electrical engineer.
4. A “No objection” letter issued by the Enemalta for a PV installation which required an Authorisation.

Request for an extension

• In case of a PV system which required an Authorisation, a “No objection” letter issued by the Enemalta.

Request for transfer of ownership:

1. In the case that the new owner is:
   1. a company, a copy of the official Memorandum of Articles of Association for such company is required to be submitted;
   2. an organisation, a copy of a Statute in the case of an organisation identifying the President and the Secretary e.g. a Band Club is required to be submitted;
   3. a sole trader, a copy of the VAT certificate is required to be submitted.
2. In the case of a PV installation which required an Authorisation, a “No objection” letter issued by the Enemalta for such transfer of ownership also needs to be submitted.

1. There are no application/applicable fees for the installation of a PV installation with a rating less than 40kWp.
2. There are no application/applicable fees to request an extension or to request a change to an existing PV installation.

Regulation 59(1) of the Electricity Regulations (S.L.545.34) establishes that any person who contravenes any of the provisions of the Electricity Regulations or of a licence condition or of an authorisation or approval issued thereunder, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall, on conviction, be liable to a monetary fine of not more than sixty-nine thousand euro (€69,000) or of one thousand and three hundred euro (€1,300) for each day during which the offence persists.
 
Regulation 59(2) of the Electricity Regulations (S.L.545.34) establishes that a person who, when information is requested or required by the Regulator, knowingly or negligently:

1. gives any false, inaccurate or misleading information; or
2. supplies incomplete information; or
3. fails, without reasonable cause, to supply information requested within the given timeframe; or
4. prevents or hinders any investigation; or
5. produces or furnishes, or causes, or knowingly allows to be produced or furnished, any document or information which s/he knows to be false in any material respect,

shall be guilty of an offence. and shall, on conviction, be liable to a monetary fine of not less than one thousand euro (€1,000) and of not more than sixty thousand euro (€60,000) for each day during which the failure to comply subsists.

Regulation 59(3) of the Electricity Regulations (S.L.545.34) establishes that where any person fails to comply with the provisions of the regulations, or of a licence or authorisation condition for a period not exceeding three months, the Regulator may revoke such licence or authorisation.
 
Regulation 60(1) and 60 (2) of the Electricity Regulations (S.L.545.34) establishes that the Regulator may impose an administrative fine upon any person who infringes any provision of the regulations or who fails to comply with any directive or decision given by the Regulator in ensuring compliance with these regulations. Such a fine:

1. shall not exceed one hundred thousand euro (€100,000) for each contravention and, or six hundred euro (€600) for each day of noncompliance, from the date of the decision given by the Regulator; and
2. shall not exceed 10% of the total turnover concerned in the preceding business year, in the case of an undertaking (including a vertically integrated undertaking) or a body corporate. This will still hold true/fine may still be imposed even if such a fine results in an amount that exceeds the one hundred-thousand-euro (€100,000) threshold.

No specific period for completion of the procedure is established at law.

Generally, applications are processed within ten (10) days provided that no clarifications and/or site inspection are required.

The Regulator for Energy and Water Services publishes a list of applications for a feed-in tariff submitted to its office and their respective status, on the Dashboard of the One-Stop-Shop.

In general, the Maltese Administrative Law establishes that in the absence of a reply, this is construed to be tantamount to a refusal, and the applicant has a right to appeal.

In case of refusal of the allocation of a feed-in tariff (Part One 1 stage), or non-confirmation of the feed-in tariff (Part 2 stage), the applicant may apply for the review of the refusal to the Feed-in tariff Evaluation Committee within twenty (20) days from the date of the letter of refusal.

Any decision taken by the Regulator, including refusal of an application or withdrawal of an authorisation or a licence, may be subject to appeal before the Administrative Review Tribunal established by Article 5 of the Administrative Justice Act.

You may submit the application form together with all associated documentation and relevant payments referred to in the application form either by post or by hand to:  
Regulator for Energy and Water Services,
Zentrum Business Centre, Level 1,
Mdina Road,
Qormi, QRM 9010,
Malta.