No support for alternative energy

I read with interest Anne Zammit's article, "European Awards, Future Energy and SlMO" (The Sunday Times, February 9). However it gave the impression that alternative energy in Malta is something new, and this instigated me to write a few lines to clarify matters.

I have been active in the field of photovoltaics for 10 years, designing, manufacturing and installing PV systems both locally and overseas. Through my experience I can confirm that Malta has its own experts in various alternative energy fields including photovoltaic and wind energy, with various experts installing and researching systems all over the island. Malta also has a 1 MW per year PV module manufacturing plant.

Various alternative energy entities have also sprouted all over the island over the years. These range from the stand-alone solar house, utility-tied factories and even a wind/PV hybrid chicken farm. Various kinds of support in the alternative energy field have also been provided by private enterprise with foreign experts being brought over for discussion with Enemalta personnel on the use of wind energy in their generation mix, but to no avail.

The only thing that has been absent is support from Government or parastatal institutions. My latest attempt at requesting support was through a question sent to MIC by e-mail requesting the procedure for obtaining funding from the EU to allow me to conclude research work I am carrying out in the field of active air-conditioners for Malta.

A success for Malta in this area would mean a reduction of the summer generation peak required for the air-conditioning load. To date, however, no reply has been forthcoming.

Maybe the time has finally arrived, through the intervention of the Malta Resource Authority, to see some serious action instead of the usual lip service