With the European Commission's proposal for Malta to generate 10 per cent of its energy from renewable energy sources by 2020, it is high time for the country to act.
Experts on energy efficiency and renewables from Spain and UK will shortly be visiting Malta to present the latest results of research and development and policies adopted to promote energy efficiency and the application of renewable energy technologies.
As a member of the European Union, Malta needs to enhance efforts to implement the EU directives designed to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels, improve energy transmission efficiency and use in buildings, transport, appliances and communications, and promote a cleaner environment through greater use of renewable energy sources.
The Spanish and UK experts will join local counterparts to address over 100 participants from public and private bodies with an interest in energy and renewable energies who are expected to discuss and share experiences on some of these pressing issues during a one-day seminar on 'Energy Efficiency and Renewables: Policies, Applications and Research', being held at the Coastline Hotel, Salina, on January 29.
The seminar is being organised by the University of Malta's Institute for Energy Technology to bring together national and European policy-makers, researchers, educators and entrepreneurs and other key players in the field of energy to discuss the latest local and European developments in the field.
The institute is also seeking greater collaboration with local and European entities to bring about the much-needed change in every citizen's attitude towards energy use and renewables, to consolidate our know-how and experience on how we can reduce our energy bill, improve the economy, diversify our energy sources and improve our environment to attain a better quality of life.
The seminar will address local and European policies and legislation on energy and renewables, highlight participation of local and European entities in EU projects, promote the results of collaboration between the University and industry and will share the outcome of specific real-life results of projects and renewable energy systems' analyses.
The conference programme may be viewed at http://home.um.edu.mt/ietmalta/seminarprogramme.pdf.
For further information contact the institute on 2165 0675 or 2165 2249 or view its website: http://home.um.edu.mt/ietmalta.