S.L. 545.43 Art. 27Joint projects with other Member States.

(1) The Minister may make arrangements for cooperation with one (1) or more authorities in one (1) or more other

Member States, or designate an authority or entity to make such arrangements for cooperation, on all types of joint projects with regard to the production of electricity, heating or cooling from renewable sources, where cooperation may also involve private operators. SOURCES

(2) By 31 December 2025, the Minister shall agree to establish a framework for cooperation on joint projects with one (1) or more other Member States for the production of renewable energy:

Provided that by 31 December 2030, the Minister shall endeavour to agree on establishing at least two joint projects.

(3) The identification of joint offshore renewable energy projects shall be consistent with the needs identified in the high-level strategic integrated offshore network development plans for each sea-basin referred to in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and Directives 2009/ 73/EC and (EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/ 2013, and the Union-wide ten-year network development plan referred to in Article 30(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, but may go beyond those needs and may involve local and regional authorities and private undertakings.

(4) For joint projects, a fair distribution of the costs and benefits shall be undertaken, with all the relevant costs and benefits of the joint project being taken into account in the relevant cooperation agreements.

(5) Any cooperation agreements entered into, together with the date on which the joint projects are expected to become operational, shall be notified to the Commission.

(6) Projects financed by national contributions under the Union renewable energy financing mechanism established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1294 of 15 September 2020 on the Union renewable energy financing mechanism shall be deemed to satisfy the obligations referred to in sub-regulation

(2) for the Member States involved.

(7) The Minister shall notify the Commission of the proportion or amount of electricity, heating or cooling from renewable sources produced by any joint project located in Malta that became or becomes operational after 25 June 2009, or by the increased capacity of an installation that was refurbished after that date, which is to be regarded as counting towards the renewable energy share of another Member State for the purposes of the Directive:

Provided that units of energy from renewable sources imputable to an increase in the capacity of an installation shall be treated as if they were produced by a separate installation becoming operational at the moment at which the increase of capacity occurred.

(8) The notification referred to in sub-regulation (7) shall:

(a) describe the proposed installation or identify the refurbished installation located in Malta;

(b) specify the proportion or amount of electricity or heating or cooling produced from the installation which is to be regarded as counting towards the renewable energy share of the other Member State;

(c) identify the Member State in whose favour the notification is being made; and

(d) specify the period, in whole calendar years, during which the electricity or heating or cooling produced by the installation from renewable sources is to be regarded as counting towards the renewable energy share of the other Member State.

(9) The duration of a joint project as referred to in this regulation may extend beyond 2030.

(10) A notification made in accordance with this regulation shall not be varied or withdrawn without the joint agreement of the relevant Maltese authorities and the relevant authorities of the Member State identified in accordance with paragraph (c) of sub-regulation (8).

(11) The Minister may request the Commission to facilitate the establishment of joint projects with other Member States, in particular by means of dedicated technical assistance and project development assistance.

(12) On the basis of the indicative goals for offshore renewable energy generation to be deployed within each sea basin, identified in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of 30 May 2022 of the European Parliament and of the Council on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2009, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2019/943 and Directives 2009/73/EC and (EU) 2019/944, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, the Minister shall publish information on the volumes of offshore renewable energy that are planned to be achieved through tenders, taking into account technical and economic feasibility for the grid infrastructure and the activities that already take place.

(13) The Minister shall endeavour to allocate space for offshore renewable energy projects in maritime spatial plans, taking into account the activities that already take place in the affected areas.

(14) In order to facilitate permit-granting for joint offshore renewable energy projects, the relevant authorities shall reduce the complexity and increase the efficiency and transparency of the permit-SOURCES

granting procedure, shall enhance cooperation among themselves and shall, where appropriate, establish a single contact point.