Resources Minister George Pullicino admitted in Parliament yesterday that Malta had fallen behind in the renewable energy sector, but emphasised that the government was determined to take all necessary action. Malta needed solar, wind and energy generated through waste, but there should be more focus on existing sources of renewable energy.
Mr Pullicino was winding up a 180-minute debate on a motion seeking House approval to ratify Malta's membership in the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), officially established in Bonn in January last year. To date, 148 states and the European Union had signed the statute of the agency. Among them were 48 African, 38 European, 35 Asian, 16 American and 10 Australia/Oceania states.
Mandated by these governments worldwide, Irena promoted the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. Acting as the global voice for renewable energies, the agency facilitated access to all relevant renewable energy information, including technical data.
Mr Pullicino said that very recently Parliament had discussed the National Report on Waste Management, where it was calculated that the generation of clean energy would meet the annual needs of 30,000 families.
Speaking on wind energy, he said the government was analysing Is-Sikka l-Bajda, Ħal Far and Baħrija, the latter having been suggested by opposition spokesman Leo Brincat. But Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat had warned Baħrija farmers that wind farms would destroy the aquifer.
The Solar Energy Report identified people's concerns and sought to answer such questions. While Mr Brincat had said that there should be feasibility studies on solar energy, Mr Pullicino said that feasibility studies had been conducted by Mepa on the possibility of land reclamation. But this would take between 30 and 40 years and would come at a cost.
A Swedish company was interested in installing floating solar panels, which would result in more coverage.
Reacting to a comment by Dr George Vella (PL) that the Copenhagen summit had been a negative one, Mr Pullicino said that this had been a disaster due to certain blocs that ignored the EU. Notwithstanding, the EU had still put up a very strong presence at that conference.
Private intervention was needed in the renewable energy sector because the government could not achieve the required technologies by itself.
The Renewable Energy Plan was part and parcel of the National Energy Plan, which was also being executed by larger countries.
Mr Pullicino said that on energy efficiency, the government had introduced certain policies such as giving away energy-saving bulbs. Spain had given only one bulb to each household while Portugal had given five bulbs but only to the most needy families.
Malta had several limitations, and Irena would help Malta to maintain contacts with other organizations that had more knowhow on the sector.
The Malta Resources Authority had shown that reaching 10 per cent of bio-diesel usage could be achieved by having a mix of bio-fuel and diesel. While car manufacturers did not guarantee that vehicles could run with 10 per cent bio-fuel, they would give such guarantees in the future. Meanwhile, local diesel suppliers would be required to increase the sale of bio-diesel by 1.5 per cent. The percentages would increase along the years.
Mr Pullicino said that he would soon appoint a national committee to assess fiscal incentives to attract more electric cars.
The Auditor General's report confirmed that clean energy and climate change were relatively new subjects and therefore forecasts were needed, even though they would not be precise.
The minister said that though clean energy should be achieved, one had to pay for it. If targets were not achieved, one would have to face fines while also suffering the consequences of not having achieved such targets. Earlier, introducing the motion, Mr Pullicino said one of the main aims of the international agency was to close the gap between the renewable energy sector's potential and the actual role that it had been playing until recent times.
Irena's main function was to advise members to develop strategic plans, obtain the needed capacities and improve their knowhow. It also encouraged research in the sector.
The government, which had signed the Irena statute in June last year, believed that ratifying it created possibilities for future developments in the renewable energy sector. Irena's objectives would also help Malta in reaching its aims on the subject.
The minister said that both politicians and the general public should be informed on the sector in order to remove misconceptions. Today's wind farms created less noise than those of the past decade.
Reaching the 10 per cent target would benefit Malta because clean energy would be generated and costs reduced.
Concluding, Mr Pullicino augured to have consensus to ratify Irena's statute and to have a national will which would result in beneficial projects to protect future generations.