Matthew Xuereb
Government probes low household uptake
Only just over half of the targeted number of households chose to take up the subsidy on solar water heaters and the Resources Ministry wants to find out why.
With less than a month left to apply for the €460 rebate, 2,800 families have applied for assistance even if the government was aiming to help 4,000 when it launched the scheme in February last year.
Once the scheme closes, it will be replaced by another one, this time financed by the European Social Cohesion Funds, and the assistance will be to the tune of €560.
However, unlike previous schemes, not everyone will be eligible for the assistance.
The new scheme will be limited to families entitled to the energy benefit; those who receive supplementary assistance; families that get a fixed children's allowance, having an annual income of under €23,923; all Gozo residents; low-income families; and first-time buyers purchasing property that cost below €120,000.
The grants on solar water heater systems will cover 40 per cent of the expenditure, up to a maximum of €560.
The project is spread over three years and about 2,500 families a year are expected to benefit from the €4.2 million allocated to this scheme.
However, only 2,852 applications were received for the present scheme, which does not bode well for the second one.
A total of 2,592 applicants were issued with a grant letter giving them the go-ahead to install the solar water heater within a four-month period, while some 260 applications could not be processed due to missing information.
So far, €658,720, have been paid out, an MRA spokesman said.
A solar water heater for a family of four costs between €1,300 and €1,600 and the MRA needs to give its go-ahead before the equipment is purchased and installed.
23 Comments
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Charles Yousif
Jan 29th 2010, 14:00
@ Godfrey Camilleri: Some research has already been done. You may wish to have a look at http://staff.um.edu.mt/cisk1/Poster_28_Yousif_Fernandez_Vazquez_Buhagiar.pdf. The summay is that specifically for a 150-litre solar heater savings could reach up to a maximum of 1,850 kWhelectric per year. However, given that this depends much on the actual life style of persons, a more conservative figure should be used for the average.
Jesmond Farrugia
Jan 26th 2010, 16:54
Godfrey, the exercise is relatively simple; you have to measure (ideally using a kWhr meter) the electricity consumption on an EWH and then compare after installing a SWH.
Godfrey Camilleri
Jan 26th 2010, 16:37
To be convinced of a SWH feasibility I have asked for some organisation, being the University, Enemalta or governmental to set up a control experiment over a two year period. Taking 4 families of 2, 3, 4 and 5 measure their electricity consumption using an 80L EWH and the next year measure the same after installing a SWH. Ideally the metering should be directly on the respective water heaters so that there will be no other factors effecting the electrical consumption. Only after seeing such figures can one be convinced or otherwise of the effectiveness of SWH and what will be their payback period.
R. M.
Jan 26th 2010, 13:34
"Malta does not need a bigger power station, it needs a better one and better consumption management. "
Why do you want to be captive to the whims and incompetencies of a central monolithic power source, rather than responsible for your own independent distributed sources? Self-reliance.
Godfrey Camilleri
Jan 26th 2010, 12:52
I was one of the very first to have a solar water heater in 1981 which I bought for Eur 1650, had tank inside and a pump circulating a coolant in the panels to avoid calcification. Capacity was 130L. At that time at least the panels were not efficient enough to heat the water when the sky was cloudy so that the electric booster came on at 1.5kw which had to heat 130L when probably I required only 30L. Hence it was obviously costing me more than an EWH. Eventually I had to put in a 7 day timer. It lasted 22yrs. Now I did consider the scheme. So I asked the University, Enemalta and two agents to give me some figures. Univ and Enemalta offered nothing and figures from agents were not convincing.I think a SWH is ok if you need frequent baths or jakuzzi.For a shower all you need is an EWH with timer.And the fact mentioned that one does not know when one will get the money offered on this scheme is very true as I am one who participated in the balconies scheme and still have not received my refund since March 2009.
Galea. L
Jan 26th 2010, 11:46
Joe Azzopardi
For you they are hideous, but for others they are not. As they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder so if I want to put one on my roof no one is going to tell me no. That's none of their business.
As for those who say that they are not efficient, they are because I have family members who have installed one which uses glass elements and the electrical element has only had to be switched on a couple of times during the coldest days in winter when we had absolutely no sun. The only problem is the capital cost which many simply cannot afford.
Jesmond Farrugia
Jan 26th 2010, 11:05
@Joe Azzopardi
Mr. Azzopardi,
I have had a SWH installed for over 32 years now and the savings over an electric boiler are equal to 1500-2000 units per year. That is a recorded fact and not a 'dream'.
Please get your facts right before putting 'pen to paper'.
mattgew azzopardi
Jan 26th 2010, 09:20
this scheme is a joke.
hundreds of families invested in the month of January 2009, & mr George decided to start the sceme on 14th February although it was announced in the earlier budget. !!
we were then placed in the previous year scheme which was still active although he said that every scheme has a begining^& an end,,,,,, when confronted by myself.!!!
decide!!!
Joe Azzopardi
Jan 26th 2010, 08:46
@ Galea L – I'd look the other way but these hideous structures are all over the place. Besides what I am saying is that in certain areas they should not be allowed and that there should be planning guidelines as to how these should be allowed with the least impact.
@ Jesmond Farrugia
If you think that a SWH will have a very great positive financial impact on your purse Dream On you are for a big surprise. If you managed hot water better you would be saving much more trust me. Malta does not need a bigger power station, it needs a better one and better consumption management.
Galea. L
Jan 25th 2010, 22:20
J Azzopard
If you think that they and aerials are not nice to look at just look the other way Azzopardi.
A Camilleri Eco-Gozo, the joke of the year.
M Cachia
Jan 25th 2010, 20:10
Let me start off by stating that I am in the business of renewable energy. Just wanted to clarify some points. A good closed thermosiphon solar water heater loses approximately 5 to 8 degrees at night. The vented ones will lose more for obvious reasons as they are open to teh ambient air. The wasted energy is not in reheating the water in the morning. That is a need. The wasted energy results in keeping the back up heater on unnecessarily during the day and at night. A good solar water heater will gain energy during the day and any energy gained is energy saved in electrical heating. if your water is at 35C then it will take 20 minutes to heat to 45C. The skin can withstand at maximum 50C . Many people shower at 37C. Whatever the case, a good solar water heater will not be switched on for a good 9 months. The rest of the 3 months will depend on the sizing of the unit, the efficiency of the system and the sunshine in those 3 months. If all three factors are caculated correctly, your energy bills are guaranteed to be much less.
S Zammit
Jan 25th 2010, 19:39
@Joe Bartolo ''After a night on the roof, I suspect that the water will not exactly be boiling and so the system will resort to the standby heating elements, which renders the whole thing pretty much useless'' I have installed my solar water heater last December and we are a family of 4. No, actually in the morning is the best time to wash as the water comes out not boiling but just at the right temperature to wash. The water still remains hot even at night. The only problem I have is sometimes it takes 3mins until the hot water starts coming down from the roof. Instead of wasting this cold water I simply collect it in a bucket and use it for flushing and washing the floor etc...i hope this anwsered your question. I found the solar heater very practical and only had to put on the stand-by electric heater once. I urge people to install one as long term you do save money and is also better for the environment.
Jesmond Farrugia
Jan 25th 2010, 17:06
@J Azzopardi I see your point; however, better a SWH on the roof (with some photovoltaic panels) than a hefty electricity bill and a bigger power station!!
J Azzopardi
Jan 25th 2010, 15:43
Has anybody thought for a moment of the advers aesthetic effect these water-heaters are having on certain urban areas. In the 60s we had TV antennas scaring Malta now its the turn of these hideous objects.
Jesmond Farrugia
Jan 25th 2010, 13:37
The benefits from a solar heater are generally very positive and a lot of money can be saved. Unfortunately, apartments have no available space and some bathrooms are far away from the solar heater wasting water for the customer. Certain situations have solutions and customers should ask the supplier about these situations. If the supplier is unable to assist, move on and find another supplier.
Regarding the new scheme, this is doomed to fail:
1. Low income households who cannot afford a solar heater will still not buy it for an 'extra' 100Euros (from 2009).
2. There are certain situations where no space is available on the roofs - government should consider legislating for this problem to be solved.
Low income households need assistance in FINANCING not just subsidies. The government should allocate some of the funds to be able to provide low income families with low interest (or no interest) loans.
A Camilleri
Jan 25th 2010, 13:08
and what is the reason for all Gozitan residents to qualify for the scheme?
P. Schembri
Jan 25th 2010, 12:59
I've installed a solar heater of a certain brand with a capacity for 6 persons. Since installed, last June, there had been no problem whatsoever about heated water. The only problem encountered was last week, when there was no sign of the sun. Even at night-time, the water comes through the taps very hot! But I had the electric water heater (geyser) and switched it on for a few hours. About the rebate. I've received the rebate after five months. As to water wasted, I fill up half a bucket of water before hot water comes flowing in, which is not much.
T Mercieca
Jan 25th 2010, 12:13
Further to all points and comments mentioned, there is the issue of the building layout.
Case 1 - A house with two higher buildings on each side, each 2 storeys higher. This means that you have very limited sunshine if you're lucky enough
Case 2 - A block of 7 or more flats. Since the only area left available is the roof over the penthouse, you'll find 7 water tanks, and say 14 or more Airconditioning split units. Now where are you going to locate the solar water heaters if each requires and area of 1.5 by 2 meters, and have to be south facing, without covering each other?
Case 3 - No right to put anything on the roof except a water tank and 1 external aircondtioning unit.
Case 4 - Washroom roof is too small to put on anything else.
Wonder if there are more points to add, maybe some one will bother to look at things properly prior to set up a scheme
A. Zahra
Jan 25th 2010, 12:08
@ Paul Barret
How very naive to trust the businessman not to take undue advantage at our expense should the system you are suggesting were to be adopted.
Joe Bartolo
Jan 25th 2010, 11:53
My reason ? We are a family of 5 and need hot water first thing in the morning.
After a night on the roof, I suspect that the water will not exactly be boiling and so the system will resort to the standby heating elements, which renders the whole thing pretty much useless. I have asked about this, but no supplier has given me a straightforward reply or put my mind at rest, hence, NO DEAL.
I would consider photovoltaics, but I understand the technology is moving ahead very rapidly and so would prefer to wait a while longer (as in 2 or 3 years) before taking the plunge.
Galea. L
Jan 25th 2010, 11:35
No faith in the government paying up or paying within a short time.
Ask those who repaired their balconies in the balconies scheme.
Paul Barrett
Jan 25th 2010, 11:21
My reasons for not taking up the offer.
1. The initial outlay is too high and the advertisements for the equipment are too confusing.
2. I have a fear that despite all assurances, some bureaucratic hic-cup would prevent the payment of the rebate.
3. If placed on my roof I would need to run off 4 liters of water before any hot water reached my tap, and water too expensive to waste.
In all, it would have been better if instead of the bureaucratic system in place, the system and the installation of the system were to be made VAT free to everyone and the price quoted in the advertisements were the total, including the installed price and not some hypothetical price subject to qualification etc which may not be achieved.
g. scerri
Jan 25th 2010, 11:00
The answer to 'why" is that the scheme is too limited and many people cannot afford to install the subsidised heaters. This nation persists in believing that only people who can prove they are on the edge need help. The many others who have to watch every cent they spend becasue otherwise they too would find themselves on the edge of poverty, like many pensioners, are never considered.