Energetic solutions

It is a pity we have had to wait for an exponential growth in the price of fossil fuels for the government to start discussing alternative energy sources.

Public health and environmental reasons for tackling the energy problem are not vote catchers; we had to come to a point where pounds, shillings and pence are forcing everybody to have a good look at this issue. Unfortunately, people's health and well-being still come second to money in our national sense of priorities but even when energy production has become a huge strain on the public purse some politicians and government ministers persist in rubbishing anyone who dares suggest consideration of new sources of energy.

Even with conventional power generation, that is using fossil fuels, there is a lot to be done to encourage a more rational use of energy and to reduce wastage. The starting point is the publication of a national energy policy with targets for reducing energy consumption and the replacement of obsolete "chitty-chitty-bang-bang" plant and equipment at the Marsa power station, yes, the one which all of us were promised would close down up to 10 years ago! The Marsa equipment is seriously lowering the overall efficiency of generation by the power stations. The national plan should also include clear targets and plans - short, medium and long term - for renewable energy production.

Other measures encouraging the reduction of consumption of energy is a minimum VAT rate on energy efficient light bulbs and equipment.

The private sector, including industry, should be encouraged to invest in renewable energy electricity generating systems by allowing grid-interfacing of such systems, together with purchasing of the extra power produced by such systems by the state monopoly at preferential rates. Some individuals, out of their own initiative, are already connected to the grid but, if we are serious about air quality and Kyoto commitments, the government must actively encourage more renewable energy production. The encouragement of the local manufacturing of components that may be required for renewable energy systems and training programmes in renewable energy system installations will surely create new jobs in these emerging technologies.

It is unbelievable that our country, which is far from being an oil-sheikdom, is way back down the EU league tables when it comes to the use of renewable sources of energy: practically zero per cent! Malta must submit plans to the EU on renewable energy by December 2005. Isn't it a national shame that we have had to wait for the EU to issue a mandatory directive to start thinking of renewable energy?

These are not "idealistically impractical" policies and solutions, as some are bound to claim. Studies on the renewable energy potential of the Maltese islands are ongoing; one such study, completed recently by Maltese scientists, clearly states that "the cumulative contribution of solar, wind and biomass to power production could reach 24 per cent of the total electricity generated in 2003. Furthermore, solar water heating could save an additional 4.8 per cent".

For the sake of our own well being, health-wise and financially, it is time to wake up!

Mr Cassar is the spokesman for energy, industry and IT and a member of the executive of Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party.

ralph.cassar@alternattiva.org.mt