While Malta struggles to reach its emission targets and pushes for renewable energy, the choice by the government to go for a photovoltaic rebate system over a feed-in tariff is not only a waste of financial resources but in itself leads to a rather slow adoption of PV technology.

The guiding principle should be to maximize the available financial resources by generating the highest possible kWh which includes utilising roof space in the most efficient manner possible. The rebate system does not do this as it places the focus on mopping up the rebate, with little regard to system efficiency. It is also open to collusion as it is both in the interest of the seller and purchaser to simply swallow up the rebate.

The last PV scheme provided 416 households with an estimated total rebate of €1.248 million.

With the same amount of money committed per annum towards a feed-in tariff, the scheme could have been opened to some 3,000 households.

Moreover, the retro-type thinking of introducing red tape to favour local distributors, is nothing more than short-sighted.

A feed-in tariff will have the effect of having households shop around for the most efficient systems, hence maximizing energy output. Maintaining the system will also be in their interest. There should be no government imposed limitation as to the size of the installation, as we need all the PV roof space we can get. Finally, make it possible for a consumer to shop around for the best prices.

Policy makers have all the data to introduce a feed-in tariff. So the question is, when?

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