Labour leader Joseph Muscat is reported to have said that his party in government would, as a matter of policy, give due importance to solar energy and set up solar parks producing 20 megawatts of power each year.

When I served on the board of directors of the Water Services Corporation, well over a decade ago, I had suggested turning the vast expanses on the roofs of the corporation’s water reservoirs into solar parks that generate solar energy to offset part of the corporation’s hefty energy bill. At that time, the proposal was deemed undoubtedly unrealistic and, consequently, unfeasible. Now it seems that Muscat’s policy statement, which also includes a solar park proposal, is being seen as a gimmick in some quarters.

Muscat should not only pursue such proposal if he does get the opportunity but he should also consider adding a few tumoli to the solar parks he is proposing by including the roofs of the WSC’s water reservoirs in the project.