Mother Nature has blessed Malta with a temperate climate, where the sun shines almost all year round. This means our country has a huge potential to harness the radiant light and heat emitted by the sun and convert it into energy through various technologies.
“Having 300 sunny days, Malta should be the world’s number one solar energy producer per capita,” says Sinan Vural, an IT engineer involved in renewable systems design and installations.
More than 10,000 households have taken advantage of Government schemes and the number of suppliers is around 92
In 2009, the Government adopted a National Strategy for Policy and Abatement Measures Relating to the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases, comprising mitigation measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementating renewable energy sources, electricity efficiency and conservation.
The Government started implementing schemes to promote solar water heaters and photovoltaic (PV) panels, among other measures, and these have increasingly gained popularity. Figures show that more than 10,000 households have taken advantage of such schemes and the number of suppliers has risen to around 92. Private companies, government ministries and schools are also adopting this alternative form of energy.
The Pembroke Primary School, inaugurated in 2009, is a prime example of an eco building, using solar and wind power to generate all its electricity.
In 2011, it was reported that the school, which forms part of St Clare’s College, was not only self-sufficient, but that it sold back the surplus energy generated from solar panels to Enemalta, thus feeding the national electricity grid.
This is the way forward, according to Mr Vural, who built his own wind turbine and PV panels.
“As the efficiency of harvesting solar energy increases with better technology, solar power will be more important in future energy markets. It is a limitless resource, unlike fossil fuels, and as installation costs continue to drop, it will be the energy of choice in the future,” he claims.
The Government is offering a grant of up to 50 per cent of the eligible costs for residential PV installations with a cap of €2,500 and up to €400 for solar water heaters
The Government is currently offering a grant of up to 50 per cent of the eligible costs for residential PV installations with a cap of €2,500 and up to 40 per cent (to a maximium of €400) for solar water heaters.
However, one may still be wary about some issues, like how long it would take to see the reduced electricity bills and whether solar panels would provide enough energy in winter.
According to Mr Vural, the most important consideration is to ‘right-size’ your PV system between the following three factors: your consumption patterns, with the aim to eliminate the electricity bill; your roof space, as it should not be an eyesore and it should be a solid installation; and your budget.
Once solar panels are installed, one can easily calculate the savings one is making.
“Smart meters, nowadays found in most households, have a menu that shows one’s daily consumption. Also, electricity bills include statistics on your energy use.
“Besides, there are loads of calculators on the internet to help you estimate your future consumption.”
Solar PV systems will generate less power on a cloudy day, but Mr Vural assures that they would still work.
“The installer will usually place the PV system facing the south to gather the most radiation possible and choose a location that minimises shade and maximises direct sunshine throughout the day,” he says.
Unfortunately, a segment ofthe population, who reside in apartment blocks, may never benefit from solar energy.
“Contractors are not installing solar panels simply because these systems add up to the costs of the block of apartments.
“Also, occupants are usually only given rights to put their water tanks and TV antennas because of the penthouse owners.”
The good thing is PV panels require little maintenance, which mainly entails keeping them clean. Anything that blocks the light transmission to solar PV panels has the potential to lower the performance and thus the financial return.
Mr Vural suggests cleaning the panels once a month between April and October, using the same products one would use for cleaning windows.
There are specialised solar panel cleaning kits available on the market but general cleaning products found at home are good enough, he assures.
The most important thing is to carry out this procedure early in the morning or late in the evening.
“Panels may reach high temperatures during the day, so avoid pouring room-temperature water because it might crack the panels,” he says.
Other than that, PV systems and solar water heaters are designed for outside installation and thus should withstand the elements.
In rare cases, when these are damaged by thunder or hailstorms, they can be repaired – depending, of course, on the extent of the damage.
Therefore, Mr Vural recommends insuring PV systems, a product that insurance agencies are offering as part of house policies.
Recommendations
Look out for polycrystalline-type panels made in the EU, backed up with at least 10 years’ product guarantee and 25 years’ performance guarantee.
The module manufacturer company should be a well-known brand and, considering Malta is an island, the modules should be tested and certified for near-sea installations.
Installations should come with at least five years’ guarantee. They should be made of anodised aluminium film structures that can withstand corrosion and Force 12 gusts.
It is ideal to have monitoring systems and maintenance agreements and to include PV systems with house insurance cover.
Solar water heaters should be made of flat collectors with blue tinox and 5cm rockwool insulation.
These should carry a 10-year guarantee, double-insulated storage tanks and be powder-coated for near-sea installations.
For both systems, it’s important to look out for good customer care and after-sales support.