Enemalta has cut its carbon dioxide emission by 10,000kg a year as a result of two substations – one in Sliema and the other in Qawra – that are totally self-sufficient on the energy generated by photovoltaic panels.

Enemalta chairman Alexander Tranter explained yesterday, during an onsite visit to the Qawra substation that, in a year, the photovoltaic panels in Qawra would save up to 6,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions, while the one in Sliema would save around 4,000kg.

Earlier this year, Enemalta organised another visit to the Sliema substation where the first set of photovoltaic panels were installed.

However, Ing. Tranter explained that the second set of panels were larger and had a greater capacity, and as a result generated more electricity.

“Enemalta is taking small initiatives that make use of alternative sources of energy while encouraging the public to make use of solar panels,” he said.

The panels, costing around Lm7,000/EUR16,166, should generate around 7,000kWh in a year – making the substation self-sufficient, he added.

Ing. Tranter pointed out that since their installation in July, they have generated about 22kWh daily, as opposed to the Sliema substation that generates about 16kWh daily, amounting to about 5,000kWh in a year.

The panels have a lifespan of about 20 years and generate enough electricity for a four-person household to be self-sufficient.

However, he admitted that there were not enough incentives for families to install photovoltaic panels in their homes because there was a long payback period.

The panels have a number of monitoring devices that record the daily results. These results are updated every month and are available on Enemalta’s website.

Ing. Tranter said that, contrary to widespread belief, the photovoltaic panels were less efficient during peak hours of sunlight and during the summer months.

“During peak hours, the panels heat up and the more they warm up the less efficient they are,” he said.

The panels reach their full capacity during May and June and September and October, when the ambient decreases, he explained.

At present, Enemalta is using a net-monitoring system allowing the individual to pay for the energy used by means of a meter which reads the units consumed and those made up for by solar energy production.