“The aim is to make charging an electric car as simple as stopping off at a petrol station”

What is MELIB and what is its main role in the Balearic Islands?

MELIB is the Balearic Islands’ electric vehicle charging network, and its main role is to bring together all the public charging points owned by various entities, such as local and island councils. It acts as an umbrella scheme, meaning that these local authorities do not need to have their own app or a dedicated maintenance service, as the network is directly responsible for managing the charging points and ensuring they operate correctly.

What specific energy challenges do the islands face that justify the existence of MELIB?

One of the most significant challenges is the decarbonisation of transport. Initiatives such as MELIB help to decarbonise private transport on the islands in particular, an environment where 100% electric private transport is a viable option.

What are MELIB’s current priorities?

The priority is to ensure there are enough charging points available so that users can charge their vehicles as needed without any issues. The goal is for the system to function like a petrol station—but for electricity—so that users can charge their vehicles just as easily.

What recent developments demonstrate improved energy progress in the Balearic Islands?

Individual self-consumption is being encouraged through the subsidy schemes promoted by the regional government. In addition, access to shared self-consumption is being made easier, which places renewable energy within reach of people who are unable to install it in their own homes.

What is the current status of the roll-out of charging points on the islands?

Over the past year, the network has grown by more than 50% in terms of the number of charging points, which is a significant increase. At the moment, the focus is on maintaining a high availability rate, in other words, ensuring that the points are fully operational.

Why is the maintenance of charging points so important?

Charging points are electronic devices containing highly sensitive power electronics. Even though they are designed for outdoor use, they are still electronic devices, so breakdowns are common. That is why we have a maintenance team that acts quickly when an incident occurs.

What types of professionals work on the maintenance of the MELIB network?

Mainly electricians specialising in renewable energy. These are professionals who work with electrical equipment containing highly advanced electronics, which is why the various areas of expertise within the electrical sector are all represented within the network.

What criteria are used to plan and prioritise the installation of new charging points?

Charging points are owned by local councils, and they are the ones who decide where they should be installed. They usually seek advice on identifying the most suitable locations, taking into account not only ease of installation but also ease of use, and ensuring that these are areas where vehicles are regularly present.

How is the MELIB network funded?

The installation of charging points is funded by local councils, usually with support from grants provided by the Directorate-General for Energy. Funding covers not only the charging point itself but also the entire associated electrical installation, which in many cases is the most complex part of the project. As for usage, charging was free for a while to encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles, although for some time now certain local councils have been charging for electricity consumption, so that the local council itself does not have to foot the electricity bill. Even so, the cost remains more affordable than that of a combustion-engine vehicle.

What role does coordination between different public authorities play?

MELIB plays a key role because it brings together all the charging points operated by local councils and provides them with a shared app and shared maintenance services. This way, once the points are installed, local councils no longer need to worry about their day-to-day operation.

What improvements or expansions are currently being carried out on the network?

The most outdated charging points are being replaced, particularly those from the early phases or those that can no longer be repaired. The aim is to have replaced around 200 points, which represents approximately 40% of the points that existed at the beginning of the legislative term.

How often are charging points replaced or upgraded?

Replacements are not carried out on a fixed schedule, but rather based on the needs of each individual charging point. Some points that are five years old still work perfectly, whilst others that are newer no longer work because of the technology they use.

What work does MELIB carry out that is less visible but essential to the public sector?

The status of each charging point is monitored on a daily basis, and based on that, the necessary maintenance is performed. We also work with local councils to ensure they have a maintenance contract in place, so that they don’t have to worry about the operation of the charging points once they have been integrated into the network.

How do insularity and territorial fragmentation affect the management of MELIB?

Insularity increases costs and makes it difficult to transport staff and equipment. Charging points are usually supplied from the mainland, and in the case of Ibiza, Menorca or Formentera, logistics are further complicated by the fact that these islands are doubly or even triply isolated. This makes maintenance particularly costly and requires teams to be stationed on each island to deal with breakdowns quickly.

How would you like to see MELIB develop in the long term?

The idea is for MELIB to cover all public and private charging points on the islands, so that anyone, whether a resident or a visitor, can access all charging points using a single app, and for the Balearic Islands to be a region that is clearly committed to the use of electric vehicles.