EU funds totalling some €60 million have been secured for investment in renewable energy sources as part of a “road map” that will see Malta reaching its targets, according to the Energy Ministry.
The funds will partly be used to incentivise the private sector and NGOs to introduce projects encouraging the uptake of renewable energy sources. The main focus of the government’s plan is solar energy, with an emphasis on energy efficiency.
By the end of the year, Malta will be getting five per cent of its energy needs from clean renewable energy, according to the ministry. This is up from 3.8 per cent two years ago.
The government denied speculation that Malta is lagging behind on its commitments, saying the country was on track to meet its EU target of 10 per cent energy consumption from renewables by 2020.
“We are confident we will reach the targets. There is a road map and there is no lack of political will,” a spokesman said.
Plans to reach renewable energy targets under the previous administration relied on a wind energy farm at Sikka l-Bajda, which would have generated some four per cent of the country’s energy needs.
The ministry said the elimination of the project followed the planning authority’s refusal of the permit.
The idea is that people are comfortable in their homes, but also need to be aware of the need to avoid waste of energy
That refusal followed an unprecedented move where planning authority chairman Vince Cassar recommended that the government terminate the environmental impact assessment before its conclusion. Mr Cassar had to admit he was the one who decided, at that stage, that the project was a “no go”.
Wind energy does not feature in the road map for the next five years. The reliance has shifted to solar energy, with photovoltaics (PV systems) featuring as the main source. Half the country’s 10 per cent target will be generated through PV systems, according to the government’s plan.
This is in line with the agreement signed with China, where the country’s direct investment in Enemalta includes the option of setting up a company which assembles Chinese solar panels in Malta for Europe.
Other renewable energy sources include waste-to-energy, solar water heaters and roof tanks, heat pumps and biomass, but their contribution is minimal – each generating around one per cent or less by 2020.
The use of biofuels will gradually increase to around 2.5 per cent. This is because the EU imposes clean transport fuel as a necessary part of the energy consumption mix. Transport is one of the major contributors to air pollution in the country – it is second only to the power station.
The ministry explained the need for a staggered introduction of renewable energy sources.
“A sudden spike could negatively influence the economy. If we imposed an immediate increase in biofuels, for example, rather than a gradual introduction, the cost of filling your tank would increase,” a spokesman said.
Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi announced last December that Malta needed 2.7 kilometres of solar farms, which drew some criticism because of land use issues.
Yet the ministry explained the aim was to use “highly disturbed land” such as quarries, while incentivising the private sector to take up financial initiatives to use available areas, such as large roofs, for panels. Use of land in outside development zones is not being excluded.
Efforts will also be made to raise awareness on the importance of efficient energy consumption.
“The idea is that people are comfortable in their homes, but also need to be aware of the need to avoid waste of energy,” the ministry said.
A pilot project on energy efficiency has already been rolled out in Mosta, Qormi, Paola and Tarxien. Information leaflets are being sent to homes, providing the option for families to request a home visit and receive advice on how to reduce energy consumption within the household.
The government has also embarked on its own energy efficiency projects, with efforts to reduce unnecessary energy consumption in its buildings and replacing street lighting with energy-efficient bulbs. A case in point is Żebbuġ road.
Tips to save energy at home
• Turn things off when you are not in the room such as lights, TVs, entertainment systems, and your computer and monitor.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Check to see that windows and doors are closed when heating or cooling your home.
• Use your window shades. Close blinds on the sunny side in summer to keep out the hot sun, and open them in winter to bring in warm rays.
• Buy appliances labelled for energy efficiency.
• Wash clothes in cold water.
• Change or clean your air conditioner’s filters at least once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.
• Change to new and improved light bulbs. Reduce energy use from about one-third to as much as 80 per cent with energy-efficient bulbs.
• Choose light-coloured or opaque lamp shades. Place lamps in corners so they reflect light from two walls.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving, including speeding and rapid acceleration and braking, wastes fuel.