MALTA ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGIES ASSOCIATION (M.E.E.R.E.A.) P.O. Box 54, Malta International Airport, LQA5000 TEL: (+356) 79538123      FAX: (+356) 21255676

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Installation of the first privately-owned residential solar photovoltaic grid-connected system in Malta

In June 2002, the first privately-owned residential solar photovoltaic grid-connected system was installed in Malta. Dr. Ian Tomlin, the Vice-President of the Malta Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies Association (M.E.E.R.E.A.) has set up to transform his garden into an environmentally friendly haven. He has been using organic farming techniques and has completely eliminated chemical fumigation of plants. The water of the swimming pool is not chlorinated but rather uses an ionic technique to sterilize it. In winter the pool is heated by means of an evacuated-tube solar heating system and most recently, this 1.5 kWp solar photovoltaic system was added to the garden, which would offset 25% of its electricity consumption.

Eng. Charles Yousif, the current Secretary General of M.E.E.R.E.A., and researcher at the Institute for Energy Technology of the University of Malta has designed and installed the whole set-up. A group of four students from James Madison University have also helped in installing the system during their May study session in Malta.

The Malta Resources Authority has given authorization for this system to be set up, while Enemalta Corporation has installed two electricity meters to enable the selling back of excess electricity to the grid using Net-Metering techniques, which means that the cost of importing and exporting electricity through the grid have the same monetary value.

This system is considered to be a breakthrough in the process of allowing independent power producers to operate in Malta, a field that was completely monopolized by Enemalta. The Malta Resources Authority is in the process of setting up the criteria that would monitor such activities and has now published a Consultation paper on the Development of a Strategy for the Exploitation of Renewable Energy Sources for Electricity Generation.

The recent power cuts caused by the sharp increase of electricity demand for cooling buildings during hot summer peak hours, calls for the immediate implementation of solar technology, which has now become mature, safe and completely matches the demand during those crucial hot days.

Dr. Tomlin welcomes all students and the general public to visit the garden and learn about the possibilities of living closer to nature without causing any harm. Contacts may be made by E-mail: iantomlin@onvol.net