Ryan Callus, Siġġiewi
It pays to invest in renewable energy
Malta is blessed with constant and abundant solar radiation pretty much all year round. This newspaper recently reported that 2,800 households of the projected 4,000 have applied to benefit from the solar water heater rebate made available. Some have lamented the uptake, however, in a year engulfed in recession, of this annual addition in comparison to the current market penetration of approximately 15,000 units or so would be a brighter perspective of the current reality.
The reasons might be various. If one were to consider the 50 per cent rebate up to €460 given in return for the total expenditure undertaken for a solar water heater with a capacity to sustain the needs for a household, it is in actual fact quite a substantial sum. However, when the analysis is taken a step further to consider the three- to four-year payback period, in other words the number of years necessary to recover the initial investment made, then this grant becomes all the more attractive.
The ever increasing price of oil, an issue which will ostensibly persist as long as the world's natural resources are finite, coupled with the direct impact this has on the utility bills of any household in any country relying on energy produced through natural resources, should make the installation of a solar water heater a logical and straightforward decision.
However, this is not necessarily always the case. Many would agree that the percentage rebate being made available by the government is substantial and conducive to persuading any household decision-maker to enrol and benefit accordingly. But, given that the financial aspect is not to blame, what other reasons could justify the slower market penetration in Malta?
It is highly improbable that it is due to lack of awareness, as efforts by public entities and NGOs alike have perhaps inundated the public with information on benefits gained from renewable energy resources. Not to mention the regular articles on local printed press. Sheer reluctance and unwillingness to adopt such systems could perhaps constitute one of the reasons why the majority remain hesitant to respond. A different viewpoint could, however, relate to solar "availability", given the ever increasing apartment-type households with limited roof space to accommodate four or even more, solar water heater units. The difficulty could possibly be addressed in a similar way to the call made for private companies to finance, supply, install, operate and maintain photovoltaic systems on public buildings, such as offices and schools. Another possibility being currently researched is the affixation of the solar tube component to the façade of a house, in the absence of space availability on the roof, with the necessary aesthetic considerations taken into account.
I have so far based the analysis solely from a financial perspective, but needless to say, we all stand to gain from green initiatives. Climate change affects our economy, with extreme temperatures adversely affecting our seasonal tourism. Equally preoccupying is the deposit of harmful gases into the atmosphere and the threat this poses to health in general. With an estimated 35 per cent of the electricity production in Malta used for domestic purposes, there lies minimal ground for disagreement as to the central role played by renewable energy resources and energy efficiency in households. In simple words, gas, oil and electricity are not a long-term solution, not to mention security supply from countries with political unrest and instability which makes the situation all the more complex and unreliable.
The solar water heaters rebate scheme comes to an end on February 15.
It would be unwise for households not to avail themselves of this opportunity, when clearly knowing and being cognisant, on the one hand, of the financial benefits on a personal level, and the sustainability of our nation on the other. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi recently stated that the initiatives undertaken to combat climate change, namely subsidies for the installations of photovoltaics, solar water heaters and energy-saving bulbs, have saved the country close to €6 million in electricity generation, and a likewise equivalent amount of gases in our atmosphere. More than being a contribution to the country's 2020 target agreed to as a member state of the European Union, these efforts are in the interest of us all to ensure a sustainable today for a brighter tomorrow. The incentives are there but surely the government cannot do it alone. Respecting these targets as a country requires an equal effort on our part. Investing in renewable energy resources pays us and our country.
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Paul Smith
Feb 9th 2010, 20:57
Answer to who said this, is: Richard Branson co-founder of Virgin Airlines.
Thank you for taking the time to read it Pule' Carmel.
One has to look on in folly at the sheer ignorance of government and the people.
It's a pitty that the Anti climate change camp dont focus on the true problem - the real elephant in the living room - Alex where are you?
Paul Smith
Feb 9th 2010, 20:49
So what about nuclear? Well leaving aside the question of safety, the main problem is that there simply isn't enough uranium available to power the number of power plants that we would need. So shall we go for hydrogen? Not once you realise that hydrogen is an energy carrier, and not an energy source. There is unfortunately no big hole in the ground that is full of hydrogen. Hmm... ethanol maybe? Well it has been calculated that if America were to turn over every scrap of agricultural land to the production of ethanol (giving up on any food production whatsoever) then they would produce enough ethanol to replace about 7.5% of their current petrol (gas) needs. And please don't think simply about oil = transport. All of our plastics come from oil. Most pharmaceuticals are derived from oil. Our agriculture is based on oil derived fertilisers. In fact oil drives our civilisation and is present at every level. Without it water cannot be pumped, sewers emptied, street lights run, factories operated, hospitals maintained, goods delivered to the markets, power generated, zilch.
Guess who said this?
Paul Smith
Feb 9th 2010, 20:48
Aiming to slow down oil consumption is not going to save our civilisation.Such an aim will be no more effective than rearranging the deck-chairs.
We also have to realise that all the marketing excitement about electric cars is just that, without oil we have no means of generating sufficient electricity to run the cars. And did I hear someone say, "renewable energy"? There is none. OK, so the wind will continue to blow and the sun to shine, but our means of capturing that energy is very limited. A modern windmill, for instance, requires 700 lb. of rare earths in its magnets. Rare earths are limited and not renewable. Ditto the constituents of solar panels.
Pule' Carmel
Feb 9th 2010, 19:20
To Paul Smith. I did read it. The decline would be fast and disastrous, and most of us still go about like "Jonny head in air" There will be no social fairness on the decline, but the survival of the fittest, and the fittest will not come in financial terms, but in absolute strength and bullying and killing and rampage, there will be no please and thank you and queuing politely, and rationing, just wait! And those who survive will not care too much about anti polution measures as they do in USA and CHINA and India. Even if EINSTEIN's prediction that the next war will be faught with sticks and stones will not come fortwith, the energy crises will reduce those who remain to primititive methods, as it is with stored coal and oil energy that the world advanced so much. With out oil, the world cannot support the people on it, and so till solar or any other power is found, I do not think that atomic power is yet that reliable, but I am sure that we shall go for it anyway, eventually, even if it sterilizes us, we are sure to risk anything under the circumstances.
Pule' Carmel
Feb 9th 2010, 18:51
About ten years age a man asked me to join him in a business venture to start generating electricity and run motors using only the LATEST STRONG MOLIBDINUM permanent magnets, and he even tried to legally bind me that, I will not divulge his secret. Many people do not know the difference between, force and energy, and after spending about £50,000 on the project, I had to break his heart, that the only machine you can have with permanent magnets only, is a GEARBOX, as magnets alone cannot generate energy and electricity, unless they LOSE their magnetism.
Another man approached me and said that if he drills a small hole in the bottom of a tank rather than a big one, then the water will come out FASTER and would generate more electricity in a hydro generato,r attached to a tank with a small hole!
The most efficient Solar energy at the moment, is hot water units as out of 1000 watts per meter one can pick up almost 600 watts, on a good day.
Note in space one gets about 1300 watts per metre of solar light. And that reduces at the surface of the earth.
Paul Smith
Feb 9th 2010, 18:24
Has anybody bothered to read what i posted?
It is titled the delusions of finance:
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6191
As for those magnets, where you going to buy them from?
All i can say to TOM readers and the Anti Global warming groovy gang is, welcome to the peak plateau of Global oil decline, it wont be as much fun on the way down as it was on the way up!
lgalea
Feb 9th 2010, 14:38
Anton Valletta
With due respect I think that you had better put your mind in gear before putting your fingers on the keyboard.
Can you advise us where are the rivers to use to generate hydro-electric power? This is distinct and separate from wave energy which is not called hydro-electric generation but wave power.
Can you also advise what are permanent magnet generators and how they generate electricity? A dynamo is a permanent magnet generator, but it has to be turned by some means to generate electricity. With what? Pedal power, wind power????
Anton Valletta
Feb 9th 2010, 14:03
Is PV panels, Solar water heaters and Wind Turbins the only solution? Sorry to say but there are other solutions which are more feasable, economical and not eye sour. Best solution for our needs are Hydro and Permanent Magnet Generators which are cheaper and do not need to obstruct any precious space.
Paul Smith
Feb 9th 2010, 12:08
sorry i mean read this:
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6191
All sounds about right to me
Paul Smith
Feb 9th 2010, 11:57
Good letter, but you may want to read this: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100209/letters/it-pays-to-invest-in-renewable-energy
It should clear up your rosey ideas of the future - then read some of the comments