ENERGY AND WATER AGENCY

Their core work

Malta's Energy and Water Agency is the national public body responsible for energy efficiency policy implementation and water resource management. They serve as Malta's representative in EU-wide Concerted Actions, translating European energy and renewable energy directives into national policy and practice. Their work spans monitoring national energy consumption, evaluating energy audit policies for SMEs, and addressing Mediterranean-specific water scarcity through managed aquifer recharge research. They act as a policy bridge — connecting EU-level directive requirements with on-the-ground implementation in a small island state with unique energy and water constraints.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2016-2018), the Agency focused broadly on energy directive implementation and began engaging with water scarcity and aquifer recharge research — reflecting Malta's dual resource challenge. From 2019 onward, their work sharpened toward energy efficiency policy evaluation, SME energy audits, capacity building for policymakers, and decarbonisation of public buildings. The shift signals a move from general directive transposition toward more targeted, actionable policy instruments and measurable outcomes.

Moving toward hands-on decarbonisation policy for buildings and SMEs, with increasing emphasis on monitoring, evaluation, and financing mechanisms — expect future involvement in renovation wave and clean energy transition projects.

How they like to work

The Agency participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with its role as a national authority contributing country-specific implementation experience to EU-wide coordination projects. With 87 unique partners across 33 countries, they operate in very large consortia (Concerted Actions typically involve all EU member states). This makes them a reliable, low-risk consortium partner who brings national regulatory perspective rather than technical research capacity.

Extensive pan-European network spanning 87 partners in 33 countries, built primarily through Concerted Action projects that connect national energy agencies across the EU. Their network is broad but institutionally focused — mostly peer national authorities and policy bodies rather than industrial or academic partners.

What sets them apart

As Malta's national energy and water agency, they bring a rare small-island-state perspective to EU energy policy — dealing with isolated grid challenges, extreme water scarcity, and Mediterranean climate conditions that differ sharply from continental Europe. For consortium builders, they offer guaranteed Maltese country coverage in Concerted Actions and policy coordination projects, plus real-world experience implementing EU directives in a resource-constrained microstate. Their dual energy-water mandate is uncommon among national energy agencies and relevant for integrated climate adaptation projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MARSoluT
  Their largest funded project (EUR 237,956) and only MSCA training network — a departure from their usual policy work into water resource research, reflecting Malta's acute water scarcity.
• LEAP4SME
  Second-largest funding (EUR 100,625) and most targeted project — directly linking energy audit policy to SME practice under Article 8 of the Energy Efficiency Directive.
• CA EED3
  Most recent Concerted Action (2022-2026) with broadened scope into decarbonisation, public procurement, and building financing — signals their evolving policy focus.