Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1342444
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 FEBRUARY 2021 Ryan Callus is a Nationalist MP and spokesperson for energy & water management Ryan Callus OPINION Our strategy to power your future A few days ago, the Nationalist Party launched its energy vision that goes be- yond the 5 year electoral cycles. Our strategy, based on 6 pillars, also includes immediate short term measures, that correct the evident flaws in our electric- ity market, coupled with the energy mix to provide for security of supply, whilst achieving our medium term targets for 2030 and gradually becoming a carbon neutral state by 2050. At present Malta lacks a true vision for the future of the energy sector. This is substantiated by the European Commis- sion's response in October 2020 on the National Energy and Climate Plan pre- sented to it by this government, describ- ing it unambitious and lacking in recom- mendations. Cheapest first supply policy The 18-year contract entered into with Electrogas and its notorious 80% take- or-pay clause is a chain tied to the neck. All government commitments will be re- viewed within the legal context ensuring all contracts are driven to the cheapest opportunity. Cheapest first also means ensuring that the consumer pays the fair price of electricity and is not 'robbed' by the erraneous billing system, which a fu- ture PN Government will revisit. Energy efficiency first Energy efficiency means less consump- tion, in turn meaning lower bills for our citizens and reducing emissions and pol- lution. In summary energy efficiency is the win-win scenario. Nonetheless it is true that energy efficiency comes usually with an upfront cost. Albeit paying back big time, this cost may be a barrier for some to reach their households' full po- tential in energy efficiency. In our vision we are implementing the energy efficien- cy first principle through grants and oth- er schemes that bridge the gap and make the technology truly accessible for all. We also commit to a transformation of the current EPC certification from an infor- mation tool, to one that effectively imple- ments energy efficiency in buildings. Long term alternative national genera- tion capacity The commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 is an objective we are committed to retain. This may be done if we detach ourselves from fossil fuels such as natural gas, with a focus on hydrogen as a renew- able fuel source to sustain existing and future land based gas turbines, which will remain necessary to counteract for inter- mittancy from renewables. Likewise, our internal discussion has identified possible solutions to those families who do not en- joy solar rights. Drive towards electrification One of the biggest consumers of energy in the local context is transport of people and goods, specifically road transport. We will pursue the road of electrification of transport further supporting an already growing electric vehicle market. Address- ing the immediate, we need to rectify the anomaly of EV night charging tariffs, cur- rently at 13c a unit, which is way higher than a truly advantageous tariff, noting that the lowest tariff for domestic is 10c5. We will bridge this, additionally ensuring that the infrastructure relative to electric vehicles keeps up with the demand, with a growing number of charging points and pillars across the islands up to 10% of the existing electric fleet at the time. Electri- fication may also take the shape of elec- trified public transport including a mass rapid transit systems. Further interconnection to Europe Albeit driving towards energy efficiency, the drive to electrification comes at a cost of increasing demand which needs to be met, whilst ensuring that any technical glitch in one or another source of gener- ation does not lead to a statewide power cut. At this stage a solution in the short to medium term is further interconnection to Europe through a second interconnec- tor that possibly runs through a different route from the one already in place for further security of supply. Offshore large-scale renewables Going offshore is the only way out for concrete growth in renewable energy for Malta. Wind technology has gone through 12 years of evolution in the tech- nology and the advent of floating plat- forms overcomes major issues. We feel that now is the time to once again start looking into reaping wind energy. Float- ing offshore is establishing itself and costs are coming down, in a way that in the next years, floating wind will turn out cheaper than conventional generation. We already have examples in Scotland and Portugal were such tech is already well placed to compete with conventional generators. With the technology going from a maximum depth of 50m in 2010 to somewhere around 250m in 2021, a larg- er area has now become available further out at sea. We will now present our vision to the consituted bodies, stakeholders, civil so- ciety, experts at large and all those who have an idea to contibute. We will listen, to better this vision for when the time comes to present it to our electorate for a sustainable future. In our vision we are implementing the energy efficiency first principle through grants and other schemes that bridge the gap and make the technology truly accessible for all