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Labour want to capture sun’s power in parks and panelled roofs
Labour on renewables: solar parks and solar rights, and scrapping old appliances.
9 January 2013, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
Energy was the focus of Joseph Muscat's day so far, hosting the press at the Bulebel industrial estate where he presented his proposals for the renewable energy sector.
Muscat said a new Labour government would launch an energy-efficient support service, in which households would participate in a voluntary survey carried out by private companies, so that a study could be carried out on energy consumption patterns.
Muscat said the service would benefit those who have above-average consumption, and would later form the basis of a national strategy to reduce consumption of water and electricity.
Complementary to the support service would be a 'scrapping' scheme for old appliances, to be replaced by new, energy-efficient appliances from any retailer. An eco-friendly kit, on the same lines as that already launched in Gozo, would allow families to reduce their water consumption by up to 25%, Muscat said.
"We intended financing these schemes from savings we will earn across all government departments, but this will start from the next year's budget," Muscat said.
Muscat also contradicted claims by finance minister Tonio Fenech that Labour's plan for the importation of natural gas into harbour necessitated specially built tankers.
"Our plan also includes the pipeline, but the best option is to go for a liquefied natural gas terminal. We don't even know exactly if this government has in fact applied for EU funds for the gas pipeline. If the EU is ready to finance it, then well and good. We are conscious that this project will take time, but something must be done urgently."
Muscat also said a Labour government would keep wind energy as part of its renewable energy mix, to reach EU2020 targets and have all infrastructure in palce by 2018.
He said that apart from solar parks, a new government would give people whose apartments have no access to rooftops to benefit from collective photovoltaic panel schemes. The solar panel systems would also be financed through a special purpose vehicle in collaboration with the private sector.
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WELL DONE JOSEPH I LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND AS WE ALL KNOW IS A RICH COUNTRY IN MINERALS AND FUEL, AND YET THEY HAVE TAKEN THE INITIATIVE OF TURNING ALL THE LIGHING IN THE STREETS AND PARKS INTO SOLAR ENERGY AND YET MALTA SO SMALL WITH HIGH ENERGY COSTS AND AN EDUCATED GOVERNMENT THAT HAS NOT LEARNT THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLAR ENERGY, ONE WIND FARM LIGHTS 20,000 HOUSHOLDS MY ELECTRICITY BILL HERE IS 200 EUROS A YEAR AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE WHOLE VILLAGE WERE I LIVE IS LITE UP ONE WIND FARM, SO WHAT IS MALTA WAITING FOR?? BELIEVE IN JOSEPH MUSCAT AS i BELIEVE HE WILL TURN THE WHOLE ISLAND INTO SOLAR.
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The more I hear the more I like. It started off with the creation of the "New Movement". The time for technocrats, and the consequent huge reduction in the number of lawyers that run Parliament/Malta has arrived. I figured that the intelligence, youthful vibrancy and burning ambition from the new guys on the block would produce results. Also the reason being that what is being proposed by this new team of galloping horses is actually possible, given the forceful elimination of the huge bureaucracy existing in Government departments and quangos and given the energetic verve of the proposers. One can feel the energy even across a TV screen. In 2008, when looking at Gonzi billboards, somehow only his falsity was transmitted out of them. And the billboards were proved right.
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Aktar ma naqra aktar qijed nigi konxju kemm Il PL laburista bis sahha ta Joseph Muscat immatura.Keep up the good work Joseph.
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The importance given by the PL in its energy plan to PV solar panels is noteworthy and very important to achieve our EU requirement of 10 per cent alternative energy sources. There is no doubt that solar panels are the most economic viable source of alternative power. Thanks to the aggressive development of the technology in China the cost of PV power has been dropping ferociously. Whilst the price of oil keeps increasing the price of solar has decreased to less than a third of the price five years ago. Panels are now being sold in China for less than 1 euro per watt and by 2020 solar will achieve price equity with grid power. A recent report by Ernst and Young shows how the future of energy self sufficiency lies with installation of solar panels. It is therefore important that we develop a holistic plan whereby every rooftop and other available space will be covered with solar panels. Besides offering better incentives ,the PL in government should engage designers and architects to commission design structures which are architecturally and visually pleasing on rooftops. Properly situated they can also provide added shade for buildings which will cut down on energy consumption by sheltering and insulating buildings. We should also support research to promote and develop the concept of floating solar panels on our vast sea territorial waters.
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That is the way we need to go, we take our energy free from the SUN.
