12 June 2007 Rating 11% No Comment  

During a visit by Italian Environment Minister and President of the Italian Green Party, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, to the Alternattiva Demokratika offices in Sliema, AD's draft energy policy was launched. Minister Scanio praised the precision of the 10 points outlined in the draft energy policy, emphasising the use of solar energy. He said that the proposals were very valid especially for a country like Malta, as the Maltese islands are surrounded by the sea and favoured by bright sunshine. The Italian Minister agreed with AD on promoting Gozo as an ecological region, thus creating new jobs into these new technologies in Gozo and keeping the island free from pollution, noise and ecological disaster. "Turning Gozo into an ecological island would promote eco and agro tourism which is the future for the tourist industry. Italy's long-standing collaboration with Malta could grow to incorporate sustainable development on the island. Gozo provided the ideal environment for such a project, not being too densely populated." The Minister said. "Such initiatives were being taken on small Italian islands, which were being made totally independent of fossil fuels for the generation of energy. Even if Gozo reduced its dependency on fossil fuels by 50 per cent, with a goal for total independence in the future, it was a step in the right direction" Mr Pecoraro Scanio concluded. Ralph Cassar AD spokesperson on Energy and the Environment summarized the main proposals of the draft energy policy. The draft policy document, Cassar said should serve as a basis for discussion on reducing Malta's economic dependence on fossil fuels. Depending on imported fuel for all Malta's energy needs is economically dangerous and makes the Maltese economy, and exposes all Maltese businesses and families to unpredictable economic burdens. Ralph Cassar said that the price of energy from fossil fuels and the huge investment needed to bring Malta's power plants within EU standards will increase the price the government (and ultimately the taxpayer) will have to pay for the production of energy, therefore any talk minimizing the importance of renewable energy is shortsighted and irresponsible. The main policy proposals are: 1. Increasing efficiency of power plants through a modernization programme. Currently efficiency is a low 32%. 2. Phase-out of incandescent lamps over 5 years and a programme to distribute energy saving lamps to all households to kick-start the uptake of this technology. 3. A target of 50,000 new solar water heaters over the next 5 years through grants, VAT refunds and loans with low interest rates. Such an investment on the government's part will pay back through reduced energy use and thus less use of expensive fossil fuels. Households use up to 25% of their energy consumption to heat water. An average family may reduce their energy bill by Lm100 yearly with the use of such systems. 4. A target of 5,000 new installations of photovoltaic systems on houses and apartments over the next 5 years. Generation of clean electricity from the sun will reduce the burning of expensive fossil fuels. The state should incentivise the uptake of these systems by setting a good rate for the buying of the extra electricity generated by these systems by the state monopoly. The fact that energy is being generated in a clean way makes it more valuable. Currently there are no effective incentives for households to use PV. 5. A serious effort to enforce energy efficiency regulations in construction. The use of solar water heaters in new buildings should become compulsory. 6. A service of energy audits - all households should be energy audited and shown how to reduce their energy use and thus their electricity bills. 7. The installation of a land based wind farm with 4 to 5 750kW turbines. Whilst the current price of electricity generation at source (excluding distribution costs) is estimated to be 5c per unit, the cost of a unit from wind is 2c per unit - making it immediately economically feasible. 8. Negotiations with industry for the setting up of a fund to finance energy saving and clean energy projects in industry. This programme can be finded through a slight increase of the heavily subsidized price paid by industry for electricity - the advantage for industry is that the extra amounts paid will be reinvested to help reduce consumption of energy and for the uptake of renewable energy technology which will lead to an eventual decrease in energy bills. 9. A 'Pact on Climate Change' - If Malta does not cap its Carbon dioxide emissions it will be subject to huge fines (some 400 million Euros). The cost of non-action is too high to ignore. Government should utilize all the roof space available on its property (all schools, government departments, hospitals etc.) to generate energy from PV. From small symbolic acts the state must set an example in this regard. All social partners should come together to discuss concrete proposals for increased efficiency in energy use, the creation of jobs in renewables technology and for R&D investment in this area. 10. The immediate implementation of the 1997 Appledore Report recommendation that part of the Malta Drydocks is converted into a solar panel manufacturing facility. Creating a market for renewables and energy efficient technologies will have various economic and social benefits. It will reduce economic uncertainty, can make Malta a good 'living laboratory' for new technologies, creating jobs and new economic activity, and will benefit everyone through the reduction of pollution.