Power plants main culprits in CO2 emissions

Joanne Attard Baldacchino

Apr 13th 2009, 09:57

Editor, please note error in this article, where: 'The reports noted that Malta's overall greenhouse gas emissions were very small compared to the rest of the EU and amounted to just one per cent of the EU-27 emissions', should be corrected with 'around 0.1 percent to the overall EU-27 GHG emissions', as correctly reported in the previous article 'Energy sector biggest local polluter' on Tuesday 7th April 2009.

G Caruana Dingli

Apr 10th 2009, 09:56

"Malta's overall greenhouse gas emissions were very small compared to the rest of the EU and amounted to just one per cent of the EU-27 emissions"
Malta's population of 0.4 million is the smallest of the EU 27 countries and only 0.08% of the total EU27 population of 499.7 million.
If these figures are correct, Malta emits 12.5 X the EU 27 average of greenhouse gases per head population. This is alarmingly high.

J Farrugia

Apr 10th 2009, 09:31

jesmond you're living in day dreams. renewable energry... my foot. Utopia . Imagine: no cars, no power staions, no nothing. how are you going to write stupidities on your laptop? or how are you going to phone on your mobile? Be sensible and let's all be sensible shall we?

john fenech

Apr 9th 2009, 17:23

In my opinion the reduction of the country’s carbon footprint have to start top to bottom. That is energy have to be produced efficiently and from diverse recourses. This will ensure continuity of supply, reduction of carbon emissions and competitive tariffs. Parallel to this renewable energy system will be put on the domestic & industrial market at reasonable pay back time frames.
In Malta we are doing this in reverse order the citizen is asked to reduce the carbon foot print while the authorities keep on reeling out one feasible study after the other about the installation of this or that renewable energy systems!
We must avoid sweeping statements about savings in energy bills and consequently the carbon foot print. For instance solar heaters are an energy saver but that is just one factor the other must be efficient payback time on the capital invested. In the mean time if the water heater is used economically the power utilisation should within 33% of the total consumption.

What about a green building policy; that is new buildings are designed to use water and power efficiently, reduce waste, pollution and protect the occupant health.

Joseph Cauchi

Apr 9th 2009, 15:24

If according to this report, our power stations are the main culprits in terms of carbon dioxide gas emissions; then wouldn’t it be simpler if we had to remove and dismantle these power stations and instead connect a cable-link to Sicily for our supply of energy?

This strategy would be cheaper money-wise for Malta in the long run and healthier, as the air would be cleaner without these carbon dioxide gas emissions!

But of course some may argue that this strategy would jeopardize our independence and makes us vulnerable to outside pressures! But aren’t we not in the EU and thus we and our neighbours share one and common principle as European brothers?

Others may object to such strategy, albeit not publicly, as this would lessen their chances of exploiting the system, as undoubtedly this system as it is employed today and having the power-stations in Malta, generates millions of euros on a daily basis.

But, anyway, who is going to kill the goose that lays the golden egg?

../..

Randolph Peresso

Apr 9th 2009, 13:44

More than 60% of the electricity consumption of each houshold is used to heat up water.

In my opinion the most efficient and cost-effective way, for both the govt. and people, to reduce emmisions and highly lower electricity consumption is the installation of a solar water heater.

I have one installed. According to my calculations, if I had to use an electric water heater, my electricty consumption would be 3 times as much.

Jesmond Farrugia

Apr 9th 2009, 12:36

Only one way forward, increased energy efficiency (reduce demand) and promote renewable energy.

GaleaL

Apr 9th 2009, 10:41

Are we now also expected to go without electricity because of CO2 emissions when the big countries have been industrialized for hundreds of years?