Valletta Solar System

Malta basks in 300 days of sunshine per year, but installing solar panels in Valletta presents various issues. The standard practice of fitting panels with a 30-degree south-facing tilt, which usually maximises their ability to capture sunlight, is problematic in a historic city.

In 2021, the Valletta Cultural Agency proposed a 2030 plan, in which only electric vehicles would be allowed into the city, while rooftop solar panels would play a greater role in generating power. Turning vision to reality is not straightforward, however.

Luciano Mulè Stagno is director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy at the University of Malta and a former chief executive of Heritage Malta, the agency tasked with conserving Malta's cultural heritage. He tells us that buildings in Valletta itself tend to boast relatively good sustainability credentials.

VALTA originates, acquires, develops, finances, and constructs clean-energy projects throughout the United States. VALTA owns and operates projects in the commercial, industrial, small utility, and community solar sectors. VALTA is proud to own and operate solar installations nationwide for municipal, utility, and commercial off-takers.

Turning vision to reality is not straightforward, however. For one thing, Valletta's infrastructure has to handle the weight of a massive tourism sector. Malta received nearly 3 million visitors last year (around six times the population of the island). Over 800,000 tourists arrived in cruise ships.

Cachia praises Malta's new parliament building, opened in 2015, for taking a more sensitive approach. Alternative Technologies won the tender to install solar panels at the complex and used specialised designs to place the panels at a much less conspicuous 5-degree angle.