Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1396480
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 JULY 2021 NEWS LAURA CALLEJA ENERGY minister Miriam Dalli launched a new €26 million in- vestment scheme for renewable energy for onshore wind, PV and solar panels of over 1MW pow- er. Dalli said the investment would allow for the installation of over-1MW with a total ca- pacity of 16MW. The investment targets own- ers of quarries, disused land- fills, industrial land, roofs and car parks, among others, who want to instal PV panels. Financial support through the feed-in tariff will be set at an average of €12c7/kWh. But varying feed-in tariffs will be based on detailed technical cal- culations based on the differ- ent types of installation. The government has also launched investment schemes for renewable energy projects generating between 40kWp to 1MWp, for a total alloca- tion of 31MWp. That scheme was spread over ten calls and is open until July of next year. So far, two calls have been is- sued, one for those interested in 40kW-200kW projects and another for 200kW to 1MW. This brings the total alloca- tion to a capacity of 47MW from renewable energy sourc- es, with a total investment of €76 million over 20 years. "We wanted to ensure that investors embark on projects they com- mit to," Dalli said. "It brings together the gov- ernment's work to increase re- newable energy in Malta, with four specific goals in mind: af- fordable and clean energy, in- frastructure improvements and industry innovation, responsi- ble production and consump- tion and climate change." Dalli said the government was also helping residences with renewable energy schemes in homes. "In the end, the result of all this will mean better air quality, economic growth and investment in people," Dalli said. Feed-in tariffs for new solar farms to pay €26 million over 20 years Miriam Dalli KARL AZZOPARDI THREE local councils, nine or- ganisations and several Pembroke residents have filed an appeal with the Planning Tribunal (EPRT) against the Planning Board's de- cision to give the go-ahead to the DB Group's City Centre project on the former ITS site. The appellants are requesting the annulment of the PA decision allowing the DB Group to build two 18- and 17-storey towers and a 12-storey hotel, on public land in Pembroke. Last June, Environmental NGOs launched a crowdfunding initi- ative to file legal action against the Planning Authority board's green-lighting of the DB project at St George's Bay. Despite objections from three local councils and some 30,000 residents, the DB project was ap- proved by just four votes to three in the PA board. The appellants cited a number of reasons as to why the devel- opment should not continue, including the project's non-con- formity with many planning poli- cies, the defective and incomplete studies submitted by the develop- er and a "manipulated process" leading to an unfair PA meeting and decision. "The strong public response to the recent crowdfunding cam- paign will once again enable the appellants to take the full range of possible legal actions aimed at the revocation of the DB permit," Moviment Graffitti said, Another appeal challenging the Environment and Resources Au- thority (ERA) decision to approve the Environmental Impact As- sessment (EIA) of the db project is also underway. "We commit ourselves to mak- ing every possible effort to stop big business and public author- ities from running roughshod over the people's will to protect its environment and quality of life." Appeal filed against DB group project in Pembroke